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5 hours ago
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It feels like the NBA is becoming more international. It has long had an overseas presence, but in recent drafts, the non-American talent has been the focal point of the draft chatter, making fans more aware of the international player pool.
In particular, France has seen a stark rise in NBA-caliber talent. The most notable was Victor Wembanyama, who was selected by the Spurs with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. While he was considered a generational player, Wemby quickly became a household name in the NBA.
The trend continued last year as the Hawks selected Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick. Alex Sarr and Tidjane Salaun went second and sixth, respectively, to the Wizards and Hornets.
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There has been a French invasion into the NBA over the past two years, and that isn't expected to slow down in 2025. As many as five players from France were consistently mocked in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Here is more on the French players who have been drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft.
French players drafted 2025 NBA Draft
Noa Essengue
Essengue is a 6-10 forward. He is from France, but is currently playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. His team was making it far in their league playoffs, so he was unable to work out for teams in the pre-draft process. Still, Essengue is expected to be a top-10 pick, with Sporting News' Gil McGregor mocking him to the Raptors at No. 9 and ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo agreeing. The player is known for his "length, mobility, and defensive versatility."
Mocked team: Raptors at No. 9
Actual team: Bulls at No. 12
Nolan Traore
Traore, 19, is a 6-3 guard. He was initially expected to be a lottery pick, but he's proven to need more molding after his recent season in the LNB Elite. He still carries a lot of upside, and he can be developed into a great playmaker. Traore fits well in the back-half of the first round where he can land with a team that has the ability to take a little more risk and make a pick that can help more in the future rather than the immediate short-term.
Mocked teams: SN: Thunder at No. 24 | ESPN: Nets at No. 26
Actual team: Nets at No. 19
MORE 2025 NBA DRAFT NEWS
- SN's complete two-round mock draft
- Final top 60 big board rankings, including player comparisons
- Why Cooper Flagg is can't-miss No. 1 pick
Joan Beringer
Beringer is a 6-11 center who is adept at shot blocking. He is playing for Cedevita in Serbia, so that gives him a year of professional experience that others in this class won't have. When his season ended, he was able to get workouts in with Chicago, Brooklyn, San Antonio, Atlanta, Memphis, Minnesota and Houston, per ESPN.
Mocked teams: SN: Timberwolves at No. 17 | ESPN: Spurs at No. 14
Actual team: Timberwolves at No. 17
Maxime Raynaud
Raynaud is a 7-1 forward. He is one of the few French players in this class who played college basketball here in the United States. Raynaud spent his career at Stanford. His size could have gotten him drafted earlier, but he chose to play four seasons for the Cardinal. In his career, he averaged 12.6 points and 7.7 rebounds. After playing sparingly in his first two seasons, Raynaud had his breakout as a junior. He averaged 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds as a junior and improved to 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game as a senior.
Mocked teams: SN: Pelicans at No. 23 | ESPN: Celtics at No. 28
Actual team: TBD
MORE NBA DRAFT NEWS:
- Full list of all 59 picks in 2025 NBA Draft
- Examining the 6 safest NBA Draft picks in 2025
- Who are the riskiest picks in the 2025 NBA Draft?
Noah Penda
Penda has been measured at 6-7.25 without shoes on, so he will likely be considered a 6-9 forward when he plays. He can play "multiple positions, is young enough to portend upside, and might be a reliable jump shot away from offering some bench value," per ESPN.
Mocked teams: SN: Hornets at No. 33 | ESPN: Clippers at No. 30
Actual team: Magic at No. 32
MORE NBA DRAFT NEWS:
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