Latest news with #RatiopharmUlm
New York Post
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Ben Saraf's experience a big reason behind Nets' draft decision
The Nets are counting on their record five first-round picks to help turn them into a winner. Only one of them spent last year winning as a professional: Ben Saraf. The teenager didn't just play against grizzled veterans, but usually beat them. Advertisement A big, crafty lefty point guard likened to an Israeli D'Angelo Russell, Saraf averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists to lead Ratiopharm Ulm to the Bundesliga final — and was selected by the Nets with the No. 26 pick. 'It's great to see these guys playing in Europe, and playing against grown men and playing at a higher level than, to be honest, most colleges,' general manager Sean Marks said.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Noa Essengue skipping German finals to attend 2025 NBA draft amid links to Nets
The post Noa Essengue skipping German finals to attend 2025 NBA draft amid links to Nets appeared first on ClutchPoints. One of the Brooklyn Nets' potential international NBA draft targets will be at Barclays Center for Wednesday's festivities. Noa Essengue will miss the remainder of the German league finals to attend the draft in Brooklyn, according to BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas. Advertisement The 18-year-old French forward has had a productive season for Ratiopharm Ulm in the BBL, Germany's top professional league. He's averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52/28/71 shooting splits in 22.8 minutes per game. Ulm currently leads Bayern Munich 2–1 in the best-of-five German league finals, with Game 4 scheduled for June 24th. While Essengue was unable to participate in private workouts with NBA teams, he remains a projected lottery pick due to his impressive measurables, versatility and production at the professional level. He was one of 24 prospects to receive a green room invite to attend Wednesday's draft. Potential Nets target Noa Essengue attending NBA draft at Barlcays Center Essengue is the second-youngest player in this year's draft, just three days older than Cooper Flagg. His recent measurements are likely to catch the eyes of NBA front offices. He came in at 6-foot-10 barefoot and 204 pounds with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and a 9-foot-2 standing reach, according to DraftExpress' Jon Chepkevich. Advertisement Essengue's size, fluid athleticism and high motor have allowed him to impact the game in numerous ways for Ulm. The forward has been effective attacking the basket as a transition ball-handler, roll man and secondary self-creator, posting a 62.5 true shooting percentage. He's been a free-throw drawing machine, attempting 7.6 per 36 minutes and converting 70.7 percent. If he can grow into his frame and develop his raw handle and three-point shot (27.6 percent on 3.4 attempts per game), his offensive impact could be immense. Defensively, his length, versatility and high motor offer encouraging upside. Bleacher Report projects the Nets to select Essengue at No. 8 in its latest mock. Meanwhile, ESPN has him going No. 9 to the Toronto Raptors. Related: NBA rumors: Nets-Raptors RJ Barrett trade is something to monitor Related: Nets rumors: Potential secret Ace Bailey pre-draft meeting floated for Brooklyn
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Noa Essengue turns heads with Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam comparisons amid Raptors
The post Noa Essengue turns heads with Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam comparisons amid Raptors appeared first on ClutchPoints. French phenom Noa Essengue will be among the Toronto Raptors' top realistic options with the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. On Tuesday, ClutchPoints asked the projected lottery pick which NBA players he models his game after. Advertisement 'I'd say guys like Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi [Leonard]. They can really do everything on the court. Play defense, dribble, shooting,' he replied. The response quickly caught the eyes of Raptors fans. Toronto is projected to select Essengue with the No. 9 pick in ESPN's latest mock draft. Could his allusion to the team's current and former stars be an indication of what's to come? Noa Essengue says he models game after Raptors stars after ahead of 2025 NBA draft Essengue would check several boxes Masai Ujiri has prioritized in past prospects. At 6-foot-10 barefoot with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and fluid athleticism, the 18-year-old forward boasts impressive two-way upside. Advertisement Essengue has been impressive this season while playing in the BBL, Germany's top professional league. He has averaged 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52/28/71 shooting splits in 22.8 minutes per game for Ratiopharm Ulm. Offensively, Essengue has been effective as a transition ball-handler, roll man and secondary self-creator, posting a 62.5 true shooting percentage. He's been a free-throw drawing machine, attempting 7.6 per 36 minutes and converting 70.7 percent. Adding weight to his 204-pound frame while improving his raw handle and outside shot could elevate his game to another level down the line. Essengue's length and nimble feet offer immense versatility defensively, something the Raptors have placed a premium on under Ujiri. The French prospect will continue to be linked to Toronto leading up to the team's pick on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Bleacher Report projects the Brooklyn Nets to select him at No. 8, while several other mock drafts have him coming off the board in the late lottery or mid-teens. Related: NBA rumors: Nets-Raptors RJ Barrett trade is something to monitor
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets select yet another European playmaker in Ben Saraf at No. 26
Nets select yet another European playmaker in Ben Saraf at No. 26 | NBA Draft Live Yahoo Sports' Draft Live crew reacts to the Brooklyn Nets' selection of Ratiopharm Ulm guard Ben Saraf with the 26th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. View more Video Transcript The Nets look like they are making this selection with Adam Silver at the podium. Advertisement Ben Sarra, oh wow. Oh, Ben. No, that's 3, that's 3 guys who do similar things. All playmakers, all playmakers. It's kind of crazy because like they have no guards on the roster, so they're just throwing darts here see like one of these guys has to. one of these guys better be good. I'll tell you what with Sara, he is 6'5 and he wears the number 77, and I, I asked him during his media day Zoom interview that he did people during the international version of the draft combine. I said, Who do you like, who are the players you like? And he didn't. Luca and I was like, well you were number 77 you're like they're gonna be a guy that you model your game after because the way he decelerates in the lane, he is not Luca to be clear, but with Sara, he has a creativity off the dribble, his ability to get into the basket despite not being an elite athlete, his playmaking vision and his size. Advertisement He idolizes Luca for a reason and it's because of his size and because of his creativity and his shooting has improved this past year playing in Germany and with him I'm a fan of him. I had him ranked 22 on my board. Uh, I think he's played well in these playoffs for all they have. Chance to win the series. It's tied 22 games to 2 later this week. It's just a matter of what does the jumper become and what does he become defensively, but what does his body become, you know what I mean? What is he, does he, is he putting on weight or is he putting on Luca weight, you know what I mean? Like it's different. Advertisement You can put on weight or you can, yeah, no, I, I was actually gonna say this, that this is not only just 3 guards, but 3 guards from Europe, 3 European guards, 3 foreign guards, which is very, very interesting to me.
Al Arabiya
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Bulls Take 18-Year-Old Noa Essengue at No. 12 for Central Division's Lone First-Round Pick
The Chicago Bulls took a chance on the long-term upside of 18-year-old French forward Noa Essengue to highlight an otherwise quiet opening round of the NBA draft for Central Division teams. Chicago was the only Central team that entered Wednesday with a first-round selection. The Bulls used the No. 12 pick on the 6-foot-9, 194-pound Essengue, who has played professionally in Germany the last two years. 'I think I can do pretty much everything, all the little details, like shooting, passing the ball, attacking the rim,' Essengue said. 'That's my biggest strength right now is the open-court game.' Essengue has been playing for Ratiopharm Ulm, but he left his team as it competed in the German league finals to be in New York for the draft. 'We talked a lot with my coaching staff, all the staff from Ulm,' Essengue said. '(I said) 'If I go to the green room, I'm leaving.' The coach said 'Yes, go to see your dream.' So yeah, the day I (found out) I'm in the green room, Coach said 'Just go there and live your dream and we're gonna finish the job.'' Essengue is the second-youngest player in this draft class and only three days older than No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, the former Duke star who went first overall to Dallas. His youth means that this pick might not pay immediate dividends for the Bulls, who have just one playoff appearance in the five seasons since Arturas Karnisovas was hired as executive vice president of basketball operations. Chicago went 39–43 for the second straight season and finished ninth in the Eastern Conference before getting knocked out of the play-in tournament by Miami for a third consecutive year. While Chicago was the only Central Division team scheduled to make a pick Wednesday, the reigning Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks all have second-round selections Thursday. The Pacers traded out of the first round last week when they sent the No. 23 overall selection to New Orleans. In that deal, the Pacers reacquired their own 2026 first-round pick that had been sent to Toronto in the trade that brought Pascal Siakam to Indiana. New Orleans had landed that pick in a trade that sent Brandon Ingram to Toronto. Chicago Bulls Needs: The Bulls were seeking frontcourt help, particularly at center, with veteran Nikola Vucevic entering the final season of a three-year, $60 million deal. Who they drafted: Essengue at No. 12 overall. NBA comparison for Essengue: His ball-handling skills and ability to finish and defend have drawn comparisons to Pascal Siakam and Nicolas Batum. But he will need to improve his shooting. Essengue turns 19 in December. Detroit Pistons Needs: The Pistons could use some size and outside shooting. They lacked frontcourt muscle when burly forward Isaiah Stewart missed much of the first-round playoff matchup with the New York Knicks. Detroit also needed to make more 3-pointers in the closely contested series. The three-time championship franchise finally has a star to build around in All-NBA third team guard Cade Cunningham. Now it needs time to determine if former first-round picks Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland can help Cunningham on the perimeter. Who they drafted: Detroit didn't have a first-round pick. The Pistons own the seventh pick in the second round (No. 37 overall). Milwaukee Bucks Needs: Damian Lillard's torn Achilles, Gary Trent Jr.'s unrestricted free agency, and Kevin Porter's potential free agency (he has a $2.5 million player option) creates plenty of backcourt questions. The Bucks also could use a young big man. Brook Lopez and Jericho Sims are unrestricted free agents, and Bobby Portis could join them if he doesn't pick up his $13.4 million option. Who they drafted: The Bucks didn't have a first-round pick. They pick 47th overall in the second round. Cleveland Cavaliers Needs: Cleveland doesn't have many roster holes, but it does have a need for a big body in the middle to add depth. The Cavaliers have Jarrett Allen and NBA defensive player of the year Evan Mobley, but not much else when it comes to someone with size and who can be physical in the paint. That need was apparent during their second-round playoff loss to Indiana. Who they drafted: The Cavs didn't have a first-round pick. They have two second-round selections: No. 49 and No. 58. Indiana Pacers Needs: With centers Myles Turner, Thomas Bryant, and Isaiah Jackson all potentially hitting free agency, Indiana's most glaring hole is frontcourt depth. Indiana would like to re-sign Turner, a deal that could send the Pacers into the first salary cap apron. Finding an experienced big man would be ideal. Even after losing Tyrese Haliburton to a torn Achilles tendon, Indiana still has plenty of backcourt bodies. Who they drafted: Indiana didn't have a first-round pick. The Pacers have a second-round selection at No. 54 overall.
