A new French basketball player hits the screen: Nolan Traoré.
The 18-year-old leader from Saint-Quentin has just celebrated his first selection with the French team, and has already been announced among the headliners of the future NBA draft.
One more line to his (young) the course of life. At 18, Nolan Traoré celebrated his first selection with the French basketball team on Thursday, November 21, against Cyprus (75-59). This Sunday at the Arena Futuroscope in Poitiers, still facing Cyprus as part of Euro 2025 qualifying, the leader of Saint-Quentin should add a second. The start of a promising career.
Because the native of Créteil arrived at the Blues with a status: that of one of the greatest hopes of his generation. From the height of his 91 meter, Nolan Traoré is already announced among the first choices of the NBA draft in June 2025. Almost a routine for a Frenchman, a year after the Tricolores Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr were selected in first and second position of the NBA draft, and two years after the pioneer Victor Wembanyama.
Professional since March
But before, perhaps, rubbing shoulders with “Wemby” on the American floors, Nolan Traoré first traces his path with the jersey stamped with the rooster. It was also in the selection that he began to come across the French giant. Last summer, during Olympic preparation, the young man was called… as a training partner. A few months later, he is one of the new attractions in the selection. “He was very good with the French team this summer, he is performing well with Saint-Quentin, his presence was obvious”explained Frédéric Fauthoux, new coach of the Blues, in recent days.
However, Nolan Traoré was unknown to the public a few months ago. His first professional match dates back to… March 30, 2024. Faced with the injury of its American Tyger Campbell, the Saint-Quentin club is looking for a medical joker. He then turned to the French center of INSEP and signed the 17-year-old leader. A few days later, Nolan Traoré burst onto the screen. His first meeting with the pros was a success. Against Monaco, one of the champions of the championship, he scored five points and made four assists in 15 minutes, allowing his team to win.
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The following months confirmed his talent. He scored 25 points in match 2 of the quarter-finals lost against Asvel (89-92), after having already scored 14 in the first (75-91), and stood out in Berlin during the Under-20 Euroleague. 18-year-old, scoring a record 45 points in the semi-final with Pôle France against FC Barcelona (101-96). Figures that make you dizzy. “I didn’t expect to perform so well”he admitted a few weeks later to AFP. “I just played like at INSEP and that’s it.”
Its meteoric rise should soon continue in the United States. This career plan has also become his “obsession”. “When I get up every morning, I tell myself that the draft is this year”affirms the one who does not lack ambition. “I want to be one of the best French people”he blurted. “When I’m in the NBA, the goal will be to stay, which is the hardest. But obviously, I have big goals.” Who are just waiting to be reached.
