French forward Noah Penda, a potential first-round pick, declares for 2025 NBA draft
Penda is averaging 9.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals on 43.3% shooting from the field in 27 games in the French League. He has scored at least 10 points 13 times, including a season-high 19 points and two rebounds on Oct. 4.
Advertisement
The 20-year-old is viewed as one of the top international prospects this year, given his scoring, versatility on the defensive end of the court and size at 225 pounds. He can be a force in the paint after getting downhill and has good athleticism for a player at his position.
Penda, born in Paris, is considered a potential first-round pick this year based on his overall skill set and potential on the court. He has mostly been inconsistent as a shooter and will need to improve in that area after converting 31.6% from 3-point range on 2.9 attempts per game.
He has represented France three times at the junior level, most recently in the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket. He helped the Frenchmen to the gold medal, averaging 11.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, three assists and 1.7 steals on 56.3% shooting from 3-point range in seven games.
Advertisement
Penda will be a late arrival to the United States for the predraft process, with Le Mans on track to qualify for the playoffs beginning next month. He will likely have the opportunity to participate in a draft combine in June for prospects still playing with their international teams.
The 2025 NBA draft will occur June 25-26 in New York City.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: NBA rumors: Frenchman Noah Penda declares for 2025 NBA draft
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
9 minutes ago
- USA Today
Oklahoma one of 32 teams with a real shot at College Football Playoff
Oklahoma's odds of making the College Football Playoff are good. They're better odds than 104 teams who don't stand a chance to make it, anyway. That's according to ESPN's playoff predictor. The network's computers provide 32 teams with at least a 10% chance of making the playoffs. The number is higher than any since the company's tracking began. Oklahoma has the 23rd best odds as analytics tab the Sooners with an 18.4% chance to make the playoff and a 0.8% chance to win the national title. They're a fringe contender in desperate need of an offensive answer after finishing next to last in the SEC in scoring offense (24 points per game). With a new offensive coordinator and quarterback, and coach Brent Venables now calling the plays on defense, it's time to see if the overhaul pays off in Year 4 for Venables. - Heather Dinich, ESPN The five highest-ranked conference champions, not just in power conferences, will receive an automatic bid to the 12-team tournament. Remaining teams will be chosen by the selection committee, which, Dinich wrote, won't always see things the same way the computer does. FBS coaches have a different take, too. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said only four or five teams have a shot to win the national championship. Alabama's Kalen DeBoer said eight. Oklahoma's SEC foes Texas (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), and Alabama (No. 4) all cracked the top five. Also in front of the Sooners from the SEC are Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU, Auburn, and South Carolina. It's important to note that the ranking isn't the same as the betting odds. OU is in front of South Carolina and Auburn, while with the same odds as Tennessee. The Sooners open their 2025 season at home against FCS Illinois State on August 30. Michigan, which is ranked 14th on ESPN's list, follows in Week 2. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NBA reportedly seeking $500 million or more franchise fee for each team in European league
Anyone wondering why NBA owners seem to be pushing harder for starting an NBA league in Europe than expanding domestically, we have some answers for you. But it's all about the money. Commissioner Adam Silver has been in Europe this past week, talking up the NBA's vision and selling it to potential stakeholders in the new venture, including Real Madrid, reports Joe Varden of The Athletic. Part of what Silver and the league are pitching is a $500 million per team franchise fee to buy in, reports the Sports Business Journal. The NBA is pursuing franchise fees of more than $500M from teams looking to join the prospective NBA Europe, with multiple sources maintaining the league's preferred number is somewhere between half a billion and $1B.... Franchise valuations are also said to be part of ancillary discussions with banks and private equity conglomerates, as part of an effort to settle on a dollar figure. An official from one EuroLeague franchise had earlier scoffed at a proposed $500M figure, and -- considering the template for NBA Europe includes existing EuroLeague clubs -- it seemed unclear whether teams will be priced out of joining. See why NBA owners like this idea? They could secure a share of these massive franchise fees — at least 10 teams at half a billion each is $5 billion at minimum, about what the expansion fee would be for a team in Seattle or Las Vegas — without having to give up any of their new national television revenue or equity in the league. What the NBA envisions is a few current big-name European teams — "A" license-holding, stakeholding teams from the existing EuroLeague — jumping ship to the new NBA league, with Real Madrid seen as the most willing team to make a move (Tony Parker-owned ASVEL Basket also is one to watch). Then the NBA could tap into sovereign wealth funds and private equity — groups limited in how much of a stateside NBA team they can own — to put together expansion teams or prop up smaller existing teams, something Varden details at The Athletic. The United Kingdom is home to soccer's mighty Premier League and is also another place where the NBA could attract big soccer dollars from Middle Eastern sovereign funds. The British Basketball League's reigning champion, London Lions, is owned by tech giant Tesonet... Additionally, Silver and his associates met in London this week with representatives from four private equity firms (CVC, RedBird, Bridgepoint and KKR), as well as officials from the Turkish basketball and soccer club Galatasaray. The NBA believes there is money left on the table in Europe, in areas such as broadcast rights and getting new, larger arenas built. What the NBA touts is its brand name and its business acumen — the ability to squeeze every dollar out of the business of basketball. What Real Madrid and teams such as FC Barcelona or Fenerbahçe Istanbul bring is history and a built-in fan base for the league. We're still a few years away from an NBA league in Europe, but it has become a growing focus for the league. From an existing NBA owner's perspective, it's easy to see why this is attractive. We'll see if the European clubs (and fan bases) feel the same way.
USA Today
39 minutes ago
- USA Today
Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC Fight Night 258
Nassourdine Imavov, who has spent the majority of his adult life in France, will get the chance to headline in front of a passionate Paris crowd when he looked to end the more than 10-year undefeated streak of Caio Borralho in the UFC Fight Night 258 middleweight headliner. Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho preview Imavov, 30, is coming off his biggest win to date, a knockout of former champion Israel Adesanya in February. He has suffered just one defeat in his past nine fights dating back to February 2021, and is No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings. Borralho, 32, hasn't competed since a Fight of the Night main event win over Jared Cannonier in August 2024. The Brazilian is unbeaten in his past 17 fights since July 2015, and is currently ranked No. 8. Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho odds According to Bovada, Imavov is a slight -150 favorite to hold serve as the higher-ranked fight against Borralho, who is a +130 underdog. How to watch Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho at UFC Fight Night 258 Where: Accor Arena, Paris, France Broadcast/streaming: ESPN+ When: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
