We strongly suspected it, but it is now official: Cholet Basket winger, Tidjane Salaûn, has just confirmed to ESPN that he had entered his name in the next NBA Draft.
“The NBA has always been a dream of mine, but recently it has become a goal”declared Tidjane Salaün (18 years old, 2m06). “This is the next step for me. I learned a lot this season, on and off the field. And I now feel ready to take the next step. »
Announced in the Top 15 of a vintage which does not have a superstar who crushes all the competition, it has a good card to play to finish among the “lottery picks” on June 26 in New York.
It must be said that the Choletais is one of the youngest players in the next Draft, and that he is coming out of a very interesting season, as an important player (9.1 points, 4.2 rebounds) whether in Pro A or in the Cup. of Europe (the FIBA Champions League).
In the tradition of Michael Porter Jr.
Above all, it is his combination of size (2m06) and shooting quality (3-pointers off the dribble in particular) that makes NBA scouts salivate, not without recalling the profile of a Michael Porter Jr. by example.
“I bring energy to my team. I always give 100%, in intensity and effort. I have this fire within me that pushes me to do the best possible with every action. Many doubted me but I always worked, on my game and on my body because I understood that if I wanted to realize my potential, I had to be the first and the last in the gym every day” he explains like this.
Still in the race to reach the playoffs with Cholet, Tidjane Salaün has not yet completely turned the French page of his young career. But, with Alexandre Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher, he represents the new “blue white red” wave which is arriving in the Great League…
He is the 12th Frenchman to register, after Noah Penda, Adama Bal, Armel Traoré, Alexandre Sarr, Pacôme Dadiet, Yacine Toumi, Zaccharie Risacher, Ilias Kamardine, Mohamed Diawara, Melvin Ajinça and Mohamed Diarra.
Salaun has made 75 3s this season, often pulling up off the dribble or running off movement, which is intriguing to scouts at 6'10. He's a highly competitive defender who shows versatility covering ground all over the floor with his long wingspan and outstanding intensity level. https://t.co/RAuHz17iS1 pic.twitter.com/0uQdefE72X
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 25, 2024
