If Victor Wembanyama was drafted in first position, Bilal Coulibaly created a surprise by taking 7th position in the draft overnight from Thursday to Friday.
Two French people in history. During the NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama was chosen in first position by the San Antonio Spurs and will take over from a certain Tony Parker in the franchise. Overwhelmed by emotion, the Frenchman finally realized his dream was accomplished, but far from over as he explained to the French media. eI am nobody yet, I have zero NBA games under my belt. The draft is only the beginning, it is not the end. It is a great pride for me to be the highest drafted Frenchman in history. I know it’s possible to make French basketball better and take it to the top.”
Not far from him in the green room, his Mets teammate, Bilal Coulibaly, was selected in 7th position by the Pacers and transferred directly to the Wizards to create one of the big surprises of this draft. Very satisfied, Bilal Coulibaly reacted a few minutes later to the microphone of beIN Sports: “It’s nice, it’s a dream since we were little for all French basketball players! It was a surprise. I saw the cameras arrive and I said to myself ‘but what’s going on?’ I’m very happy and very proud. It’s a crazy thing.”
Disappointment on the other hand for another Frenchman. Expected in the first round and present in the famous green room, Rayan Rupert was finally chosen in 43rd position in the draft by the Portland Trail Bazers. This selection in the second round does not allow the French to have a guaranteed contract with the Oregon franchise. On the other hand, good surprise for Sidy Cissoko who was selected in 44th position for the Texas Spurs franchise but who will have to work hard to earn his place.
The top 15 of the draft
- 1. Spurs – Victor Wembanyama (Metropolitans 92)
- 2. Hornets – Brandon Miller (Alabama)
- 3. Blazers – Scoot Henderson (G League Ignite)
- 4. Rockets – Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite)
- 5. Pistons – Ausar Thompson (Overtime Elite)
- 6. Magic – Anthony Black (Arkansas)
- 7. Pacers – Bilal Coulibaly (Metropolitans 92), traded to Wizards
- 8. Wizards – Jarace Walker (Houston) – Traded to Pacers
- 9. Jazz – Taylor Hendricks (Central Florida)
- 10. Mavericks – Cason Wallace (Kentucky) – Reportedly traded to Thunder
- 11. Magic – Jett Howard (Michigan)
- 12. Thunder – Dereck Lively II (Duke), traded to Mavericks
- 13. Toronto-Gradey Dick (Kansas)
- 14. Pelicans-Jordan Hawkins (Connecticut)
- 15. Hawks – Kobe Bufkin (Michigan)