How the first Maluach v Darlan duel of the season turned out

The Khaman Maluach v Thierry Darlan matchup was tipped as one of the most highly anticipated duels of the 2024 Nile Conference, and the first one lived up to expectations.

Both Maluach and Darlan are top basketball prospects who, at some point in their still young careers, spent time together at the NBA Academy Africa in the coastal Senegalese town of Saly.

In Saly, they bonded, they became friends.

While Darlan spent the last season with G League Ignite, 17-year-old Maluach became a dominant force on his own right before committing to Duke University.

For now, Darlan is committed to helping his hometown side Bangui Sporting Club to advance to the BAL Playoffs in May in Kigali.

Meanwhile, Maluach, who spent part of his childhood in Uganda, is now an x-factor to help the Ugandan champions City Oilers reach the next round of the league for the first time.

Darlan and Maluach first faced off on April 12, 2022, during the BAL season 2 where the former helped Petro de Luanda trounce Maluach’s Cobra Sports 92-56 with both enjoying limited playing time.

But how did the first Maluach v Darlan duel of the season turn out?

They trash talked back and forth; they dunked on one another; and, what whatever Maluach did, Darlan would respond the same way or better. It was a back-and-forth duel for most of the City Oilers vs Bangui Sporting Club game on Saturday, April 20.

Maluach’s first 10 points included three thunderous dunks, one 3-point shot and one free-throw, in the opening five minutes of the game, which sparked City Oilers to a 13-10 lead.

Then there was Darlan, who, just like his former NBA Academy Africa teammate, was in dominant form.

The 26-23 score, at the end of the opening quarter, was largely contributed by Darlan and Maluach.

In the second quarter, both players finished scoreless while Evans Ganapamo took over, leading Bangui with 17 points at halftime with a 50-43 lead.

Eventually, Bangui SC would come up on top 101-88 with Darlan and Maluach recording their first BAL double-doubles.

While Darlan contributed 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists, Maluach emerged with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists.

“We are always like that,” Darlan said when asked about their non-stop trash-talking.

“We love to play against each other. We love to go on each other in a good way. We try to make each other a better player every time we play. It was already like that in the Academy.”

“He was like yelling at me, like ‘I am here, I am here,’ and I had to respond back, telling him: ‘I am ready for you.’

Asked to reflect on Maluach’s progress, Darlan didn’t hesitate, saying: “The guy is tough. He is no longer the guy I knew at the Academy. The guy looks like an NBA player. He can do everything on the court. I can safely say he is probably the next [Victor] Wembanyama. The guy has everything to get to the league.”

But how does Darlan rate his own game since his G-League experience? Is he NBA-ready?

Darland replied: “My confidence is back to the time I was in the G League. I feel like I can do whatever I want thanks to my time in the G League where they taught me how to play the game the right way, both on defense and offense.

“Right now, I keep learning and working. I feel like I am waiting for my [NBA] opportunity. As soon as it comes, I will be ready for that,” Darland pointed out.