AFP photos
NEW YORK – A French revolution is taking place in the NBA.
For the second year in a row, a Frenchman became the top pick in the NBA Draft, as the Atlanta Hawks selected JL Bourg’s 2.05m forward Zaccharie Risacher on Wednesday night (Thursday Manila time) at the Barclays Center from Brooklyn.
Back2back’s #1 pick comes from France. pic.twitter.com/E7C1fR1M1v
— alder almo (@alderalmo) June 27, 2024
And for the first time in the history of the NBA Draft, three French people were selected in the top six.
Perth Wildcats’ 7-foot center Alex Sarr went No. 2 to the Washington Wizards while another 6-foot-9 French forward, Cholet Basket’s Tidjane Saulun, was taken No. 6 by the Charlotte Hornets .
Pacome Dadiet, a 6-foot-10 French forward who played in Germany the past two years, was selected by the New York Knicks with the 25th overall pick.
In the second round, 6’0″ French forward Melvin Ajinca was selected 51st overall by the Knicks but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
Risacher became the second French teenager to become the No. 1 overall pick after 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama last year.
Wembanyama celebrated this historic moment for his compatriots on X, formerly Twitter: “This is France, my brother.”
This is France brother ??????????????????????
– Wemby (@wemby) June 27, 2024
Wembanyama, Risacher and Sarr are the torchbearers of the new generation of French basketball, which is at an inflection point.
“It’s amazing,” Risacher said. “We’re trying to represent our country and I’m really happy to be a part of it. More and more players are coming. I’m really proud to be a part of my country’s success. Trying to understand what Victor, Rudy (Gobert) or other French players really helped me develop as a player, first in France, and hopefully now in the NBA.
Sarr, who scouts consider the top prospect in this draft class with the highest ceiling, didn’t hesitate to take a back seat to Risacher.
“It just shows the amount of talent we have in France. I’m really excited for Zacc. I think our national team is going to be really good,” Sarr said.
France, led by its pillars Evan Fournier, Gobert and Nicolas Batum, failed to win a medal at the FIBA World Cup in Manila last year.
It was a disappointing moment for Les Bleus, silver medalists at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
But the future of French basketball looks promising with the recent arrival of its young prospects in the NBA.
France will host the Olympics this year in Paris and the Blues hope to challenge a formidable American team led by NBA superstar LeBron James and Stephen Curry for the gold medal.
“I think basketball in France has improved, and that’s why we’re here in this draft. Three French players in the top 10 is not nothing,” said Salaun, 18.
Last season, there were 12 French players active in the NBA, an absolute record. In this year’s draft, 20 international players were selected, led by a record five French players.
“Yeah, it’s a little crazy,” Dadiet said. “I played with everyone. It’s nice to see your country be one of the most represented in the NBA. I am proud of myself. I’m proud of everyone. The French who went to the NBA are huge. They come from another continent. You really have to work to get there. Yes, I’m really proud of everyone. »
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Alder Almo is a former senior sports reporter for Philstar.com and NBA.com Philippines. He is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey, and writes for the New York-based website Heavy.com.
