For the 2025 NBA season, an impressive 16 players from across 10 European countries had their names called at the NBA Draft. It’s lent a distinctly European flair to the proceedings this year, and has many seasoned bettors looking for potential when checking out the latest odds and scores on Premier Bet. But who are these new talents, and where are they headed as their final destination?
For starters, there have been some impressive standouts, two of which are from Israel. Both Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf were even drafted by the same team. Great Britain has had an historic moment too, with their first player drafted since 2010. However, France has surpassed its previous best with an amazing six players selected.
Where did they end up?
Egor Demin
At 19 years old, the Russian guard Egor Demin is heading to the Brooklyn Nets and was one of the first picks. The kid is huge, topping out at 6ft 8in and is an impressive threat with the ball thanks to a good feel for the game and some great strategic vision. Yes, there’s work to be done as he’s not as consistent a shooter as he should be, and his turnover rate is rather high. But, he has a pass-first approach, which will be very valuable to the Nets, especially when paired with the aggressive scoring of Cam Thomas.
Noa Essengue
In 12th pick comes Noa Essengue from France. He’s heading to the Chicago Bulls, who have recently traded their All-Star wings Zach Lavine, and DeMar DeRozan. As such, the Bulls, like many other teams on this list, are currently in the process of rebuilding. At 18, Essengue is one of the youngest in the draft and has already made a significant impact, with his impressive size (6ft 10in) and powerful finishing ability at the rim. Athleticism and rim pressure skills are currently missing in the team, and Essengue looks to be able to fill that gap very well indeed.
Nolan Traore
Another Frenchman, Nolan Traore, is headed to the Brooklyn Nets and was long projected as a top-five pick. However, over time he showed that he wasn’t quite as efficient a scorer as teams would like, nor was he always consistent as a shooter, which raised concerns for scouts. That being said, at pick 19, he is still a solid option, showing his capability as one of the best passers in the entire draft. And with the Nets on a massive rebuild and looking to add reams of talent to their roster, he could be just the thing. With the rebuild underway, the Nets also have the capabilities of giving him a little space to learn, grow, and play, which could be nice to see.
Kasparas Jakucionis
The 19-year-old Lithuanian is heading to the Miami Heat. The Heat are well-known for capitalizing on players that come their way. And this is likely what has happened with Jakucionis. He was originally projected to be tenth pick, but came in at 20th to the Heat. He’s been a great shot-maker already when he was at Illinois, and though he has some turnover issues, this can be worked on. He looks like a strong pick for the Heat as they’re in need of some new talent since recent trades have changed up their current game.
Ben Saraf
The first of the two Israelis to get drafted, 19-year-old Ben Saraf is yet another top talent heading to the Brooklyn Nets. In fact, his countryman, Danny Wolf, is following him there. It looks like the Nets are in a major rebuild phase and looking to take on talent, rather than who will fit. We say this because Saraf has a similar playing style to Cam Thomas, which could result in a skill-set overlap. However, while playing guard he might make wing, as he’s got a very versatile shot-making ability as well as great connective skills, which could see him develop into a reliable role player if he doesn’t get the chance to star.
Of course, there are other notable players here too. Frenchman, Joan Beringer, is heading to the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Spanish Hugo Gonzalez to the Boston Celtics. With such an influx of new talent, this year could be an interesting one, especially with so many teams rebuilding.
