Tidjane Salaün
| No. 31 – Charlotte Hornets | |
|---|---|
| Position | Power forward / small forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 10 August 2005 Paris, France |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 218 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2024: 1st round, 6th overall pick |
| Selected by the Charlotte Hornets | |
| Playing career | 2021–present |
| Career history | |
| 2021–2023 | Cholet Espoirs |
| 2022–2024 | Cholet Basket |
| 2024–present | Charlotte Hornets |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Tidjane Abdoul Salaün (French: [tidʒan salaœ̃]; born 10 August 2005) is a French professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Professional career[edit]
Cholet Basket[edit]
Salaün began playing for Cholet Basket's youth team in LNB Espoirs, the French under-21 league, in 2021.[1] In February 2023, he was invited to take part in the NBA's Basketball Without Borders camp during the All-Star Game weekend.[2][3]
In May of the same year, Salaün was named the MVP of the 2023 Trophée du Futur tournament, having averaged 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.[4] He signed his first professional contract with Cholet's senior team on 10 July 2023.[5]
During the 2023–24 season, Salaün featured for Cholet Basket's senior team both in the LNB Élite and the FIBA Champions League,[6] and finished the campaign by averaging 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals.[7]
NBA[edit]
On 25 April 2024, Salaün announced that he had declared for the 2024 NBA draft;[6] his entry was confirmed by the NBA on 2 May.[8]
Charlotte Hornets (2024–present)[edit]
On 26 June, he was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2024 NBA draft.[7][9][10] He was picked alongside fellow Frenchmen Zaccharie Risacher (drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with the first overall pick) and Alexandre Sarr (drafted by the Washington Wizards with the second pick), making France the first foreign nation to have at least three native players picked in the top 10 spots of any NBA draft.[7][10]
National team career[edit]
Salaün played for the France national under-18 team in the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.[11]
Personal life[edit]
Salaün's parents both played basketball. His sister, Janelle Salaün, plays in the EuroLeague Women and for the France women's national team.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ "Basket. Leray, Dufeal, Salaun, Bordes… la vie d'après des Espoirs de Cholet". Ouest-France (in French). 30 May 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "Basket. Le Choletais Tidjane Salaun invité par la NBA à un camp réunissant 40 talents internationaux". Ouest-France (in French). 9 February 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "NBA Draft Scouting Report: France's Tidjane Salaun". SI.com. Sports Illustrated. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Dufour, Mateo (28 May 2023). "Trophée du Futur : à Blois, Tidjane Salaun a amorcé son décollage". La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest (in French). Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Basket. Cholet Basket signe pro sa pépite Tidjane Salaun : « Il sera la rotation du poste 3 »". Ouest-France (in French). 10 July 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Givony, Jonathan (25 April 2024). "French teen Tidjane Salaun submits paperwork to enter NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ a b c "NBA Draft: French players Risacher, Sarr and Salaün make history in New York". Le Monde. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "NBA announces early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2024". NBA. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ Bontemps, Tim (June 27, 2024). "Hawks use No. 1 pick on France's Risacher, 19". ESPN. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Delafolie, Gaëtan (27 June 2024). "Risacher et Sarr au sommet, Salaün dans le top 10 : draft NBA historique pour la France". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "La France éliminée par l'Espagne en demi-finales de l'Euro U18". L'Équipe (in French). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.