A big NBA fan attended the night from Thursday to Friday at the NBA draft, this moment when American franchises choose their new young players.
Passing through the United States, Kylian Mbappé was at the Barclays Center in New York as a wise spectator.
The world champion was able to measure his high popularity rating with Americans and their media.
On the red carpet, the PSG striker answered many questions in perfect English.
He cited LeBron James and Kevin Durant as his two favorite players.
The Los Angeles Lakers are his favorite franchise.
"My NBA team is the Lakers," he told ESPN.
I think they will change a lot of things.
I think they changed coach and manager.
I hope they get the ring next year.
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🏀⚽️ @KMbappe is present at the #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/xVpGzG45i3
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) June 23, 2022
From almost the same generation as the young players drafted by the most powerful basketball clubs on the planet, Mbappé also gave some advice to young talents arriving in the NBA and in a universe that can also be frightening: "First of all , they must take advantage of the moment, of this draft, slipped the Kid of Bondy.
Like I said, it only happens once in a lifetime but it's only the start of something big.
They have to work, they know it's hard in the NBA but I'm confident because if they're there, it's because they have a lot of talent.
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Under the eyes of Kylian Mbappé, four French people presented themselves to the eyes of the leaders of the NBA.
As expected, Ousmane Dieng was chosen among the first.
Ousmane Dieng (right) was chosen 11th in the draft.
Icon Sport SUSA / Icon Sport
Promised at the top of the draft, the Frenchman, the former kid from Villeneuve-sur-Lot (2.08 m, 19 years old), was retained in 11th position by the New York Knicks.
But he will not play with Evan Fournier in the Big Apple.
He was immediately transferred to Oklahoma City.
Rare so far have the French been drafted so high.
Dieng is chosen at the same level as Tariq Abdul-Wahad (11th), Jérôme Moïso (11th), Mickaël Piétrus (11th), and just below the French record holders Joakim Noah (9th), Frank Ntilikina (8th) and Killian Hayes (7th). ).
Three other Frenchys were chosen in the second round.
They are not guaranteed to play in the NBA next season and will have to prove themselves in summer camps.
Moussa Diabaté (20 years old, 2.08 m), strong winger and pivot of the University of Michigan, created the surprise by being retained in 43rd position by the Los Angeles Clippers.
The player, who joined the United States at 14, was not expected so high in the selection.
He will eventually join his compatriot Nicolas Batum in the Californian franchise.
Ismaël Kamagate (Denver) was taken in 46th position and Hugo Besson (Milwaukee) ended the evening being called up in 60th and last position.
