Most young hoopers make it their goal to make it to the NBA, but only a handful have the potential to make it that big. The league draft is the spotlight, where they get a chance to prove their worth. But getting to that sweet spot ain’t easy. That’s where the role of the Basketball Champions League (BCL) in developing young NBA draft prospects comes into the picture. There could be no better example than Luka Doncic, who made his way through playing in BCL into the league in 2018. 

There is another talent that is outshining in the BCL. His game highlights are making rounds on the internet. He even announced his arrival to the NBA while Kyle Kuzma watched him play in Europe. 

Tidjane Salaun is aiming for the other side of the pond 

Standing at 6’10, Tidjane Salaun from France makes a strong case for a potential lottery pick. He is an 18-year-old power forward who plays for Cholet Basket, in the under-21 French League. In a recent match-up against Tenerife, Salaun just played for 23 minutes and made 18 points. He made 4 out of 5 shots from beyond the arc. 

Kyle Kuzma took note of his game highlights posted by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on X (formerly known as Twitter) and shared an anecdote with the young Frenchmen while he was visiting Europe to watch hoops. He immediately recalled some familiarity with the young phenom and wrote, “I went over to France to watch some hoops this kid comes up to me and goes “see you in two years” yupppp🤣🤣”

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His assertiveness is not to be confused with cockiness. As a long-range shooter and tenacious defender, he continues to impress the European basketball scene. And his next stop will definitely be the NBA.

Tidjane is considered a potential first-round pick

He will be one of the youngest players in the draft class if he declares. Salaun has already made his trip to the NBA during the 2023 All-Star weekend to participate in the Basketball Without Borders camp program. Before signing with Cholet, he was named the MVP of the 2023 Trophée du Futur (Trophy of the Future) tournament where he outperformed by averaging 17.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

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