The golden era in French basketball could be soon upon us. After the San Antonio Spurs selected 7’4″ Victor Wembanyama of Le Chesnay, France with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the first two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft are both from France.
With the first pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected small forward Zaccharie Risacher and with the second pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, the Washington Wizards selected center Alex Sarr. In fact three of the top six players selected in the 2024 NBA Draft were from France as with the sixth overall pick the Charlotte Hornets picked small forward Tidjane Salaun.
Risacher played this past season with JL Bourg. Even though Risacher was a native of Malaga, Spain (same birthplace as two-time Ryder Cup champion and golf star Miguel Angel Jimenez), he represents France internationally because he has lived in France since the age of four. Zaccharie’s father Stephane played professional basketball for Baloncesto Malaga in Spain and also won a silver medal in men’s basketball for France at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. This past season, Risacher was the EuroCup Basketball Rising Star and the LNB Elite Best Young Player award winner. In 32 games, he averaged 10.1 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Sarr is a native of Bordeaux, France and has an Australian connection. That is because he played this past year with the Perth Wildcats of Australia’s National Basketball League. In 2023-24, Sarr averaged 9.4 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Salaun is from Paris and can play power forward as well. The FIBA Champions League Best Young Player of 2024, Salaun played for Cholet Basket in France’s Pro A. This past season, he averaged 9.3 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, and 1.1 steals per game.
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