While we had to wait until 2007 to see Joakim Noah be the first French player to enter the Top 10 of the NBA Draft, seventeen years later French basketball saw three of its nuggets enter the top of the table in this “talent exchange”.
“The French team is really going to be strong”
Zaccharie Risacher has become the worthy successor to Victor Wembanyama as No. 1 in the 2024 Draft. France thus becomes the third country, after the United States and Canada, to have two nationals chosen No. 1 in two consecutive years.
The new Atlanta Hawks player was followed by Alexandre Sarr selected second by the Washington Wizards. “The French team (for years to come) is really going to be strong” assured the 2.16m giant.
And to make this evening even more historic for French basketball, Tidjane Salaün was the very nice surprise of this NBA Draft with a selection in 6th position by the Charlotte Hornets. A choice much higher than expected for him who was rather announced around 10th place.
Finally, a fourth tricolor was once again called to join the stage where Adam Silver, the boss of the North American basketball league, was: Pacome Dadiet was selected by the New York Knicks in 25th position.
READ ALSO. NBA. “It’s France brother”: Wembanyama welcomes a historic draft for Risacher and the Blues
We now have to wait for the second round of the Draft which will be held this Thursday at 10 p.m. (French time). Indeed, with three more French chances (Melvin Ajinça, Mohamed Diarra and Armel Traoré), France could beat its record for the greatest number of Blues selected in the same year. It was in 2016 and five French people were called up: Yabusele, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Michineau, Cordinier, Cornelie.
The first round picks of the 2024 NBA Draft
1. Zaccharie Risacher (France, Atlanta Hawks)
2. Alexandre Sarr (France, Washington Wizards)
3. Reed Sheppard (United States, Houston Rockets)
4. Stephon Castle (USA, San Antonio Spurs)
5. Ron Holland II (United States, Detroit Pistons)
6. Tidjane Salaün (France, Charlotte Hornets)
7. Donovan Clingan (Portland Trail Blazers)
8. Rob Dillingham (United States, San Antonio Spurs then transferred to Minnesota Timberwolves)
9. Zach Edey (Canada, Memphis Grizzlies)
10. Cody Williams (United States, Utah Jazz)
11. Matas Buzelis (USA, Chicago Bulls)
12. Nikola Topic (Serbia, Oklahoma City)
13. Devin Carter (United States, Sacramento Kings)
14. Bub Carrington (United States, Portland Trail Blazers then transferred to Washington Wizards)
15. Kel’el Ware (United States, Miami Heat)
16. Jared McCain (United States, Philadelphia Sixers)
17. Dalton Knecht (United States, Los Angeles Lakers)
18. Tristan Da Silva (Allemagne, Orlando Magic)
19. Ja’Kobe Walter (United States, Toronto Raptors)
20. Jaylon Tyson (United States, Cleveland Cavaliers)
21. Yves Missi (Cameroun, New Orleans Pelicans)
22. DaRon Holmes II (United States, Phoenix Suns then transferred to Denver Nuggets)
23. AJ Johnson (United States, Milwaukee Bucks)
24. Kyshawn George (Switzerland, New York Knicks then transferred to the Washington Wizards)
25. Pacome Dadiet (France, New York Knicks)
26. Dillon Jones (USA, Washington Wizards then transferred to Oklahoma City Thunder)
27. Terrence Shannon Jr. (United States, Minnesota Timberwolves)
28. Ryan Dunn (USA, Denver Nuggets then traded to Phoenix Suns)
29. Isaiah Collier (United States, Utah Jazz)
30. Baylor Scheierman (USA, Boston Celtics)
