NBA Draft 2024: Zaccharie Risacher, Alexandre Sarr and Tidjane Salaun add to the league’s French revolution: ‘We’re trying to represent’
- Three French players were selected in the first six picks of the NBA Draft
- UConn stars Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan rounded out the top 10
If Victor Wembanyama kicked down the door last season, it certainly happened during Wednesday night’s NBA Draft.
Make no mistake: There is a French revolution underway in the world’s premier basketball league.
For the first time in league history, two French players were selected in the top five, as Zaccharie Risacher went first overall to the Hawks and Alexandre Sarr was taken immediately after by the Wizards.
Another Frenchman (teenager actually), Tidjane Salaun, was grabbed by the Hornets four picks later for good measure.
The 18-year-old needs time to develop. But after a season in which the French won both the Rookie of the Year (Wembanyama) and Defensive Player of the Year (Rudy Gobert) awards, the country is already making its mark on the competition, and Wednesday was another big step.
Zaccharie Risacher shakes hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted
Alexandre Sarr – another Frenchman – was selected at number 2 immediately after Risacher
18-year-old Tidjane Salaun was also selected sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets
“We’re trying to represent our country and I’m so happy to be a part of that,” Risacher told reporters after being selected. ‘There is more [French] players enter. I’m really proud to be part of the [success] of my country.’
Salaun added: “I think basketball has improved in France. And that’s why we are [in] this design. Three French players in the top 10 is no small feat.’
Risacher, Sarr and Salaun come together in the league during a true golden period for French basketball.
The NBA said ahead of the draft that a record 14 French players were on opening night last season, with veteran forward Nicolas Batum still proving to be a valuable player and Wembanyama’s old teammate, Bilal Coulibaly, now set to to work with Sarr in Washington. .
Wembanyama, who played for an otherwise undermanned San Antonio squad last season, received huge help during the draft in the form of UConn’s one-time point guard Stephon Castle – taken by the Spurs at No. 4.
The French acquisition in this year’s draft came after Victor Wembanyama finished in first place last year
Wembanyama gets some help in the form of Stephon Castle, who Spurs captured at number 4
The college national champion said he had already spoken to his new NBA teammate and did not seem concerned about the leadership transition from UConn’s disciplinarian Dan Hurley – whom he called the best coach in college basketball – to NBA legend Gregg Popovich.
“It’s not really a big culture change from UConn to San Antonio,” he said.
“I mean, if you’re there during the pre-draft process, you can see that it’s a hard-working program and they’re super, super hard guys.”
Castle’s college teammate, Donovan Clingan, an offensively gifted, good blocking player, left for the Blazers shortly after as a No. 7 pick.
Two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey went slightly higher than expected at No. 9 after starring for Purdue, while ex-Duke guard and noted TikTok sensation Jared McCain was nabbed by the Sixers at No. 16.
More to follow.