Latest news with #GermanLeagueFinals
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Frenchman Noa Essengue explains decision to leave Ulm during BBL Finals
Projected lottery pick Noa Essengue arrived in the United States this week after briefly playing with ratiopharm Ulm in the German League Finals against Bayern Munich. Essengue appeared in the first three games of the championship round, helping ratiopharm Ulm build a 2-1 best-of-five series lead. He departed the team after Game 3 over the weekend and will be on hand for the first round of the 2025 NBA draft in Brooklyn, New York. The 6-foot-11 Frenchman missed most of the predraft process because of his obligations in Germany. He received permission to miss the remainder of his team's postseason run to attend the draft in the green room at the Barclays Center. "That is always a hard choice," Essengue said on Tuesday. "In one case, you can play the playoff final, but the draft is really something special in the life of a basketball player. That is maybe going to be the best day of my life. That was a long conversation with my coach, staff and all of that. I would say that is my choice. I trust my teammates. I know they can do the job." Essengue averaged 10.7 points, five rebounds and 1.2 assists on 52.1% shooting from the field in 60 games across all league competitions. He has registered seven 20-point games, including a 22-point, 14-rebound performance on June 1. The 18-year-old is highly touted as a prospect this year, because of his size, rebounding and defensive versatility. He looked increasingly comfortable on offense and turned in several noteworthy performances to help his team to the finals. Essengue also boasts a strong interior game and dazzled in the open court in fastbreak situations after creating turnovers with his length and instincts on defense. He brings versatility and high-level experience with him to the NBA and should be a high pick, as a result. The 2025 NBA draft will feature a two-night format for the second consecutive year, with the first round scheduled for Wednesday and the second round for Thursday.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Potential Nets 2025 NBA Draft pick Noa Essengue discusses leaving team
NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets are running out of time when it comes to deciding who they will be taking in the 2025 NBA Draft that begins on Wednesday. Brooklyn has been projected by most outlets to take French forward Noa Essengue with the eighth overall pick in the Draft, but the pre-draft process also gave him a chance to explain what's going on. "It wasn't easy saying goodbye to all your friends at home, and specifically Ben Saraf," Essengue said to reporters on Tuesday as part of the pre-draft media availability that the NBA conducts every year. Heading into the Draft, there was a report from Donatas Urbonas of Basketnews that Essengue left his professional team, Ratiopharm Ulm of the BBL, that is still in the league Finals so that he could be part of the predraft process. "I mean, you know, that's always hard," Essengue continued while speaking about his decision to attend the Draft instead of continuing to play with Ratiopharm Ulm. "In one case, you can play the playoff final in your life, but you know, the drafts like really something special in your life for a basketball player. That's maybe gonna be like my best day of my life... That's my choice, and I know I trust my teammates. I know they can do the job." Essengue, 18, has helped his draft stock tremendously over the past couple of months with the way that he's played for Ratiopharm Ulm as the team is looking to win the German League Finals. While Essengue could have stayed to help the team win like his teammate Ben Saraf, who is projected to be a first-round pick, the 6-foot-10 forward decided to take in what's left of the NBA predraft process. "Yeah. I mean, we got a good impression," Essengue said when asked what his conversations with Brooklyn have been like given that he wasn't able to work out for any teams. "That was pretty cool, you know? Good feeling, nice people on the team. Nice people around me. So, that was pretty cool." Essengue could very well be wearing a Nets hat by the time the first round comes around on Wednesday.
