If Victor Wembanyama kicked in the door last season, they surely walked through it during Wednesday night’s NBA Draft.
Make no mistake: a French revolution is brewing in the world’s most important basketball league.
For the first time in league history, two French players were selected in the top five: Zaccharie Risacher went first overall to the Hawks and Alexandre Sarr was chosen immediately after by the Wizards.
Another Frenchman (a teenager, actually), Tidjane Salaun, was selected by the Hornets four picks later, just in case.
The 18-year-old will need time to develop. But after a season in which the French won Rookie of the Year (Wembanyama) and Defensive Player of the Year (Rudy Gobert) awards, the country is already making its mark on the league, and another big step was taken on Wednesday .
Zaccharie Risacher shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected
Alexandre Sarr, another Frenchman, was selected immediately after Risacher at No. 2.
Tidjane Salaun, 18, was also selected sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
“We’re trying to represent our country and I’m very happy to be a part of it,” Risacher told reporters after being selected. “More (French) players are arriving. I am very proud to be part of my country’s (success).”
Salaun added: “I think basketball in France has improved.” And that’s why we’re (in) this draft. “Three French players in the top 10 is nothing.”
Risacher, Sarr and Salaun arrive together in the league during a truly golden period for French basketball.
The NBA said before the draft that a record 14 French players were on opening night rosters last season, with veteran forward Nicolas Batum still proving to be a valuable player and Wembanyama’s former teammate Bilal Coulibaly now set to team with Sarr in Washington.
Wembanyama, who starred on an otherwise shorthanded San Antonio team last season, got a big boost during the draft in the form of UConn one-man point guard Stephon Castle, taken by the Spurs with the No. 4 pick.
The French acquisition in this year’s draft came after Victor Wembanyama was selected No. 1 overall last year.
Wembanyama will receive help from Stephon Castle, who Spurs took at No.4.
The college national champion said he had already spoken with his new NBA teammate and did not seem concerned about the transition of leadership from UConn disciplinarian Dan Hurley, whom he called the best coach in college basketball, to NBA legend Gregg Popovich.
“It’s not really a big cultural change from UConn to San Antonio,” he said.
“I mean, just being there during the pre-draft process, you can tell it’s a hard-working program and they’re super, super-tough guys.”
Castle’s college teammate Donovan Clingan, an offensively polished big man capable of crushing blocks, soon after left for the Blazers at No. 7.
“You dream about this moment your whole life,” Clingan said afterward. ‘You see it on television every year. Having that moment here in front of you today and hearing my name is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
Two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey moved up a little higher than expected at No. 9 after a stellar career at Purdue, while former Duke guard and notable TikTok sensation Jared McCain was picked at the 16th place by the Sixers.
But there was no room for Bronny James, who was expected to be a second-round pick, beyond murmurs that a team might draft him and hope his father, the still-dominant LeBron, would be tempted to follow him.
Bronny James was never seen as a true first-round candidate and that was confirmed on Wednesday.
Instead, his former USC teammate Isaiah Collier heard his name called at No. 29, while a box full of family and friends raucously celebrated his new start in Utah directly next to this reporter.
There was also one more French player selected that night, as the Knicks used their 25th pick on Pacome Dadiet.
However, the young striker was booed by a portion of the crowd, perhaps showing that the current French acquisition will require some convincing for certain fans.
You probably won’t care much, and you shouldn’t care either.
The Revolution is underway.
