3, 4, or even 5 Frenchmen could be selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft but there isn’t an elite prospect this year.
Over the past few years we’ve seen a marked increase in big time talent coming out of France, including the past two no.1 overall picks. Last year 3 Frenchmen went in the top 6 picks and 4 went in the first round. This is hugely impressive for a country that, just a decade ago, was not considered a basketball hotbed.
The 2025 crop of French prospects is a bit different in that none of these players are projected to go in the top 5 and there’s a chance that no French players go in the top 10. But it’s still a strong group with a few high-end talents and good depth. In fact, we could see as many as 5 French players get selected in the first round.
The Possible First Rounders
Nolan Traore regained a lot of momentum as a lottery pick over the second half of the season after a disappointing early stretch of play. The wiry 6-5 point guard gets to his spots at will and is a true lead guard with court vision and the mentality to handle running an offense. He’s not a great outside shooter but I’m fairly optimistic about his 3pt shot developing. He’s got good form and steps into his shot with confidence. We’ve seen him have some big scoring outbursts in international play and so his early season funk shouldn’t change his overall scoring outlook. He’ll likely get drafted in the 9-16 range and has a chance to develop into a very good starting point guard.
Noa Essengue is a hard eval. He’s been very productive playing a high level of pro ball, he’s only 18 and has good physical tools but he doesn’t blow you away with any one skill. He’s got worlds of upside but there’s a chance that his athletic prowess is somewhat mitigated at the NBA level going against NBA level athletes and he becomes more of a high-end role player rather than a star. Still, you can’t deny the production and the flashes he shows at such a young age. I think he has a similar draft range as Traore, in the 9-16 range.
Joan Beringer is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 draft. He’s a 7-foot center with unbelievable athleticism who is just barely scratching the surface of how good he can be. He’s only been playing organized ball for less than four years and is already making great strides. He’s a menace on the defensive end and has the tools to be an elite NBA defender. He can shut down the rim and guard in space, and will only get better as he adds strength to his frame and learns the nuances of the game. On the offensive end he’s mainly a play-finisher at this point but given how new he is to the game there’s no need to put a ceiling on his offensive upside. He’s looking like a mid first rounder who could come off the board in the 12-20 range but it wouldn’t shock me if a NBA team swings for his upside a little higher in the lottery.
Noah Penda is a burly 6-8 forward who has really good feel for the game, passing vision and ball handling ability. I’m not sure he’s a first rounder but he could come off the board in the 25-40 range. He’s got nimble feet and good quickness for a player his size (6-8, 242lbs) and is a high feel player. He’s also a really strong and smart defender with a lot of versatility on that end. I’m a big fan and have him in my top 30.
Maxime Raynaud is a French player who has been playing in the U.S. for the past few years. He’s an offensive-oriented 7-1 center who loves to pull-up from deep and let it fly. He’s a talented ball-handler and a very good athlete for a player his size. He’s a little bit soft on the boards and in the paint and plays more of a finesse game. Can he develop the strength and toughness needed in the NBA? Je ne sais pas. Raynaud will likely get drafted in the 20-35 range.
Second Rounders
Mohamed Diawara is a possible second rounder. He’s a lengthy and versatile 6-8 athlete with very intriguing tools but a lot of development needed.
Future Prospects
2026 French NBA Draft Prospects
At this early stage it appears that the top international prospects for next years draft are not from France…not from Europe at all. Dash Daniels and Karim Lopez are from Australia and Mexico respectively.
It’ll be interesting to see if one of the French prospects emerges to challenge for the top international spot next year. A couple of names in the mix include one Hugo Facorat, a wiry and athletic 6-11 big/forward and Noa Kouakou-Heugue who is also a lengthy forward with intriguing tools and skills.
There are a few other French prospects that I like for next year but at this point I see them more likely as second rounders including Jahel Trefle.
2027 French NBA Draft Prospects
Even though it’s a long ways away, the 2027 Draft features a big time French prospect in Hugo Yimga Moukouri, a tough and physical 6-8 forward. He’s got all the tools to be really good and it’ll be interesting to see if he takes the next steps in his development, improving his ball skills, shooting and decision-making.
Anther intriguing talent for the 2027 draft is Matthys Mahop, a big time athlete at the combo guard position with great size at 6-5. He’s a graceful open court athlete and a nice above the rim player with plenty of upside.
One interesting name to monitor is Oscar Wembanyama, the younger brother of you know who. It doesn’t look like Oscar is in the same stratosphere as his brother and might not be a NBA prospect, but still, it’s fun to imagine that scenario.
2028 French NBA Draft Prospects
This is far away so it’s hard to have a clear idea but one name that stands out is Nathan Soliman, a smooth and skilled 6-9 forward who projects as a future NBA player and possible first round pick. And we’re sure to see other prospects emerge over the next three years leading up to this draft.
Overall there’s an impressive amount of talent coming to the NBA from France and that trend is set to continue in the coming years and probably decades. From superstars to role players, the NBA is getting a lot of French flavor.
Thanks for reading!
Here’s my latest 2025 mock draft and a look ahead to 2026 and 2027.