NBA scouts have encountered a strange phenomenon in recent years - they call it "French basketball".
The 2024 draft projections have four players from France expected to be selected in the first round.
Two of them, Zachary Rizasha and Alexander Saar, are marked as the first and second choices.
Rizasha (18), who stars in Burg from the Eurocup, and Saar (18), who plays for the Perth Wildcats from the Australian league, will probably become two of the best players in the NBA in a few years.
They will join Victor Wambanyama, Bilal Koulibaly and, if you wish, Joel Embiid - who holds French citizenship.
There is a good chance that in the foreseeable future it will be possible to assemble a quintet from the European country in the NBA All-Star.
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Vombanayama, which is already becoming the biggest thing that the best league in the world has to offer, is excited by the phenomenon.
Last week he played against the Washington Wizards and Koulibaly, the seventh pick in the last draft and who played together with him in Paris Metropolitans.
"It would be crazy," he said when asked about the possibility that the first two picks in the next draft would be from France, "that would be a statement - everyone wants to taste our product."
Although Rizasha and Sarr are far from being prospects in the great order of Wemby, the 2024 draft is considered to be more open than ever, without any American talent that stands out above all, so in recent weeks the stocks of the two Frenchmen are increasing.
Alexander Sarr.
"Monster", photo: Getty Images
Rizasha (2.08 m) who plays in the forward positions in general was born in Spain.
His father, Stefan, played in Malaga in those days and recorded a fine career of his own.
He also played for Olympiakos and Murcia and his highlight as a player was winning a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics with the French team.
Despite this, he also knows that there is a good chance that in the coming years he will become "father of".
Risasha Jr. is much more talented.
Already at the age of 16, he received minutes in the Euroleague in the Villerban uniform, and this season he moved to Bourg and stars in the Eurocup and the French league.
Reporter Kevin O'Connor ranked Risasha No. 1 in draft projections, saying he resembles Denver's Kevin Porter Jr., but has the potential to become better than him.
The young player is considered one of the safe stocks in the draft mainly in light of the fact that at the age of 18 he already has two seasons of experience in the seniors - and note: he is hitting over 50% 3-pointers this season.
Jonathan Giboni, ESPN's draft expert, claims: "He is doing things that have never been seen by a player of his age in the Eurocup, except for Wombanayama," but also explains: "He is not a star, but an excellent rotation player."
Vumbanyama.
The French are coming, photo: USA TODAY
Saar (2.16 m) is indeed a center, but testifies to himself that he "can play in all 5 positions".
If you watch his highlights videos - you will immediately understand what he is talking about.
With an arms reach of 2.32m, Alexander is a messier and more physical version of Vumbanyama.
Although he is much more "colorful" than the San Antonio star, he is much less accurate when it comes to shooting.
Where does he make up for it?
Great defense.
His older brother, Olivia (24), already plays in the NBA and earns minutes in Oklahoma City.
Before that, he impressed at Kentucky College, but advised his brother to "go to a place that suits his goals."
Alexander chose the Perth Wildcats of the NBL, and looks sure to become the highest pick coming out of the Australian league, passing Lamelo Ball who was selected third in the 2020 draft.
Tidjan Salon, photo: Champions League website
Giboni claims that the 2024 draft is going to be one of the "unpredictable" in NBA history.
There is no clear star that stands out above the rest and it may be difficult even on the day of the draft itself to estimate who will be selected first.
What can be said for sure is that, apart from the duo who will star high in the lottery, there are two other French players who are strongly in the scouts' notebooks and will be selected in the first round.
Melvin Ajinse.
Yeftah Ziv's friend, photo: Saint-Canton, official website
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The first is Tidjan Sloan (in the lottery in some of the predictions), an 18-year-old forward (2.06 m) who plays in Shola from the Champions League and recorded several performances in the European factory with 24 points against Druzhepaka and 18 against Tenerife.
The other is Melvin Aginsa, Alexis' cousin, who plays for Saint-Canton of the French top league along with Yeftah Ziv and Will Reimann.
Considered to be a good three-point shooter and an excellent guard, and also physically developed and ripe for the higher levels.
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