List of French NBA players

The following is a list of French players in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This list also includes players who were born outside France but have represented the French national team.

## Key

[edit]

Pos. | G | F | C

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Position | Guard | Forward | Center
*  | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA

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## Players

[edit]

Note: updated on November 1, 2024

Player  | Pos.  | Team(s) played  | Career[a] | Regular season  | Playoffs  | Year (pick)  | Team  | Notes  | Ref.

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Games played  | NBA draft
Tariq Abdul-Wahad | F  | Sacramento Kings
Orlando Magic
Denver Nuggets
Dallas Mavericks | 1997–2003 | 236  | 13  | 1997 (11th)  | Sacramento Kings | —  | [1]
Alexis Ajinça | F  | Charlotte Bobcats
Dallas Mavericks
Toronto Raptors
New Orleans Pelicans | 2008–2017 | 293  | 3  | 2008 (20th)  | Dallas Mavericks | —  | [2]
Joël Ayayi | F  | Washington Wizards | 2022 | 7  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [3]
Nicolas Batum*  | F  | Portland Trail Blazers
Charlotte Hornets
Los Angeles Clippers
Philadelphia Sixers
Los Angeles Clippers | 2008–present  | 1058  | 69  | 2008 (25th)  | Houston Rockets | —  | [4]
Rodrigue Beaubois | G  | Dallas Mavericks | 2009–2013 | 182  | 6  | 2009 (25th)  | Oklahoma City Thunder | Born in Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean.  | [5]
Howard Carter | G  | Denver Nuggets
Dallas Mavericks | 1983–1985 | 66  | 5  | 1983 (15th)  | Denver Nuggets | Born in the United States, became a naturalized French citizen, represented France internationally during his playing career.[6] | [7]
Malcolm Cazalon | G  | Detroit Pistons | 2023–2024 | 1  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [8]
Sidy Cissoko*  | F  | San Antonio Spurs | 2023–present  | 14  | 0  | 2023 (44th)  |  | —  | [9]
Petr Cornelie | F/C  | Denver Nuggets | 2022 | 13  | 0  | 2016 (53rd)  | Denver Nuggets | —  | [10]

Bilal Coulibaly*

| G/F  | Washington Wizards | 2023-present  | 67  | 0  | 2023 (7th)  | Indiana Pacers | —  | [11]

Pacome Dadiet*

| G  | New York Knicks | 2024-present  | 2  | 0  | 2023 (25th)  | New York Knicks | —  | [12]
Nando de Colo | G  | San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors | 2012–2014 | 119  | 6  | 2009 (53rd)  | San Antonio Spurs | —  | [13]
Moussa Diabaté*  | G  | Los Angeles Clippers
Charlotte Hornets | 2022–present  | 37  | 0  | 2022 (43rd)  | Los Angeles Clippers | —  | [14]
Boris Diaw | F/C  | Atlanta Hawks
Phoenix Suns
Charlotte Bobcats
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz | 2003–2017 | 1064  | 119  | 2003 (21st)  | Atlanta Hawks | —  | [15]
Yakhouba Diawara | F  | Denver Nuggets
Miami Heat | 2006–2010 | 187  | 9  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [16]
Ousmane Dieng*  | G  | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2022–present  | 76  | 4  | 2022 (11th)  | Oklahoma City Thunder | —  | [17]
Sekou Doumbouya | F  | Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Lakers | 2019–2022 | 96  | 0  | 2019 (15th)  | Detroit Pistons | Born in Guinea to Guinean parents, grew up in France, represents France internationally  | [18]
Evan Fournier | G  | Denver Nuggets
Orlando Magic
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons | 2012–2024 | 704  | 19  | 2012 (20th)  | Denver Nuggets | —  | [19]
Mickaël Gelabale | F  | Seattle SuperSonics
Minnesota Timberwolves | 2006–2008, 2013 | 145  | 0  | 2005 (48th)  | Seattle SuperSonics | Born in Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean.  | [20]
Rudy Gobert*  | C  | Utah Jazz
Minnesota Timberwolves | 2013–present  | 761  | 69  | 2013 (27th)  | Denver Nuggets | —  | [21]
Killian Hayes | G  | Detroit Pistons | 2020–2024 | 210  | 0  | 2020 (7th)  | Detroit Pistons | Born in the United States to an American father and a French mother, grew up in France and represents France internationally  | [22]
Jaylen Hoard | F  | Portland Trail Blazers
Oklahoma City Thunder | 2019–2022 | 39  | 3  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [23]
William Howard | G  | Houston Rockets | 2019–2020 | 2  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [24]
Damien Inglis | F  | Milwaukee Bucks
| 2015–2016 | 20  | 0  | 2015 (31st)  | Milwaukee Bucks | Born in French Guiana, a French overseas department in South America.  | [25]
Joffrey Lauvergne | F  | Denver Nuggets
Oklahoma City Thunder
Chicago Bulls
San Antonio Spurs | 2014–2018 | 208  | 4  | 2013 (55th)  | Memphis Grizzlies | —  | [26]
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot | G/F  | Philadelphia 76ers
Oklahoma City Thunder
Chicago Bulls
Brooklyn Nets
Atlanta Hawks | 2016–2022 | 328  | 15  | 2016 (24th)  | Philadelphia 76ers | —  | [27]
Ian Mahinmi | C  | San Antonio Spurs
Dallas Mavericks
Indiana Pacers
Washington Wizards | 2007–2020 | 618  | 67  | 2005 (28th)  | San Antonio Spurs | —  | [28]
Theo Maledon | G  | Oklahoma City Thunder
Charlotte Hornets
Phoenix Suns | 2020–present  | 177  | 0  | 2020 (34th)  | Philadelphia Sixers | —  | [29]
Jérôme Moïso | F  | Boston Celtics
Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets
Toronto Raptors
New Jersey Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers | 2000–2005 | 145  | 4  | 2000 (11th)  | Boston Celtics | —  | [30]
Adam Mokoka | G  | Chicago Bulls | 2019–2021 | 25  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [31]
Joakim Noah | C  | Chicago Bulls
New York Knicks
Memphis Grizzlies
Los Angeles Clippers | 2007–2020 | 672  | 62  | 2007 (9th)  | Chicago Bulls | Born in the United States to a French father and a Swedish mother, grew up in the United States, became a French citizen and represented France internationally[32] | [33]
Frank Ntilikina | G  | New York Knicks
Dallas Mavericks
Charlotte Hornets | 2017–2024 | 321  | 15  | 2017 (8th)  | New York Knicks | Born in Belgium to Rwandese parents, grew up in France, represents France internationally  | [34]
Elie Okobo | G  | Phoenix Suns | 2018–2020 | 108  | 0  | 2018 (31st)  | Phoenix Suns | —  | [35]
Tony Parker | G  | San Antonio Spurs
Charlotte Hornets | 2001–2019 | 1254  | 226  | 2001 (28th)  | San Antonio Spurs | Born in Belgium to an American father and a Dutch mother, grew up in France, represented France internationally.  | [36]
Johan Petro | C  | Seattle SuperSonics
Denver Nuggets
New Jersey Nets
Atlanta Hawks | 2005–2013 | 473  | 22  | 2005 (25th)  | Seattle SuperSonics | —  | [37]
Mickaël Piétrus | G/F  | Golden State Warriors
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Boston Celtics
Toronto Raptors | 2003–2013 | 557  | 69  | 2003 (11th)  | Golden State Warriors | Born in Guadeloupe, a French overseas department in the Caribbean.  | [38]
Vincent Poirier | C  | Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers | 2019–2021 | 32  | 1  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [39]
Yves Pons | F  | Memphis Grizzlies | 2022 | 12  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | Born in Haïti, grew up in France, represents France internationally  | [40]
Antoine Rigaudeau | G  | Dallas Mavericks | 2003 | 11  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [41]
Bob Riley | F  | Atlanta Hawks | 1970–1971 | 7  | 0  | 1970 (82nd)  | Atlanta Hawks | Born in the United States, became a naturalized French citizen, represented France internationally during his playing career.[42] | [43]

Zaccharie Risacher*

| G/F  | Atlanta Hawks | 2024-present  | 5  | 0  | 2024 (1st)  | Atlanta Hawks | —  | [44]

Rayan Rupert*

| G  | Portland Trail Blazers | 2023-present  | 43  | 0  | 2023 (43rd)  | Portland Trail Blazers | —  | [45]

Tidjane Salaün*

| F  | Charlotte Hornets | 2024-present  | 2  | 0  | 2024 (6th)  | Charlotte Hornets | —  | [46]

Alex Sarr*

| G  | Washington Wizards | 2024-present  | 4  | 0  | 2024 (2nd)  | Washington Wizards | —  | [47]
Olivier Sarr | C  | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2021–2024 | 46  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [48]
Kevin Séraphin | F  | Washington Wizards
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers | 2010–2017 | 423  | 14  | 2010 (17th)  | Chicago Bulls | Born in French Guiana, a French overseas department in South America.  | [49]
Pape Sy | F/G  | Atlanta Hawks | 2010–2011 | 3  | 4  | 2010 (53rd)  | Atlanta Hawks | —  | [50]
Killian Tillie | F  | Memphis Grizzlies | 2022 | 54  | 0  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [51]
Axel Toupane | F/G  | Denver Nuggets
Milwaukee Bucks
New Orleans Pelicans | 2015–2021 | 33  | 4  | Undrafted  |  | —  | [52]
Ronny Turiaf | F  | Los Angeles Lakers
Golden State Warriors
New York Knicks
Washington Wizards
Miami Heat
Los Angeles Clippers
Minnesota Timberwolves | 2005–2015 | 473  | 47  | 2005 (37th)  | Los Angeles Lakers | Born in Martinique, a French overseas department in the Caribbean.  | [53]

Victor Wembanyama*

| C/F  | San Antonio Spurs | 2023-present  | 76  | 0  | 2023 (1st)  | San Antonio Spurs | —  | [54]

Guerschon Yabusele*

| F  | Boston Celtics
Philadelphia Sixers | 2017–present  | 78  | 16  | 2016 (16th)  | Boston Celtics |  | [55]

## Drafted but never played

[edit]

Last update NBA draft 2024

Player  | Pos.  | Year (pick)  | Team  | Notes  | Ref.

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NBA draft
Jean-Claude Lefèbvre [fr] | C  | 1960 (64th) | Minneapolis Lakers |  |
Alain Digbeu | F/G  | 1997 (50th) | Atlanta Hawks |  |
Frédéric Weis | C  | 1999 (15th) | New York Knicks |  |
Paccelis Morlende | G  | 2003 (50th) | Philadelphia 76ers
(traded to Seattle SuperSonics on draft-day) |  |
Livio Jean-Charles | F  | 2013 (28th) | San Antonio Spurs |  |
Louis Labeyrie | F/C  | 2014 (57th) | Indiana Pacers |  |
David Michineau | G  | 2016 (39th) | New Orleans Pelicans |  |
Isaia Cordinier | G  | 2016 (44th) | Atlanta Hawks |  |
Mathias Lessort | C  | 2017 (50th) | Philadelphia 76ers |  |
Alpha Kaba | C  | 2017 (60th) | Atlanta Hawks |  |
Juhann Begarin | G  | 2021 (45th) | Boston Celtics |  |
Ismaël Kamagate | G  | 2022 (46th) | Detroit Pistons |  |
Hugo Besson | G  | 2022 (58th) | Indiana Pacers |  |
Melvin Ajinça | F  | 2024 (51st) | Dallas Mavericks |  |

## Miscellaneous

[edit]

Player  | Pos.  | Team(s) played  | Career[a] | Regular season  | Playoffs  | Year (pick)  | Team  | Notes  | Ref.

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Games played  | NBA draft
Bob Cousy | G  | Boston Celtics
Cincinnati Royals | 1950–1971 | 924  | 109  | 1950 (3rd)  | Tri-Cities Blackhawks | Born in the United States to French immigrants living in New York City. He never represented France internationally.  | [56]
Joel Embiid | C  | Philadelphia Sixers | 2016–present  | 397  | 53  | 2014 (3rd)  | Philadelphia Sixers | Cameroonian-born player who obtained the French nationality in 2022, considered representing France internationally, but opted to play for the United States instead.  |

## Notes

[edit]

* a Each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Tariq Abdul-Wahad Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
2. ^ "Alexis Ajinca Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
3. ^ "Joel Ayayi Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
4. ^ "Nicolas Batum Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
5. ^ "Rodrigue Beaubois Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
6. ^ "Howard O'Neal Jr. Carter Bio". FIBA Europe. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
7. ^ "Howard Carter Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
8. ^ "Malcolm Cazalon Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
9. ^ "Sidy Cissoko Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
10. ^ "Petr Cornelie Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
11. ^ "Bilal Coulibaly Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
12. ^ "Pacome Dadiet Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
13. ^ "Nando de Colo Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
14. ^ "Moussa Diabaté Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
15. ^ "Boris Diaw Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
16. ^ "Yakhouba Diawara Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
17. ^ "Ousmane Dieng Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
18. ^ "Sekou Doumbouya Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
19. ^ "Evan Fournier Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
20. ^ "Mickaël Gelabale Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
21. ^ "Rudy Gobert NBA & ABA Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
22. ^ "Killian Hayes Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
23. ^ "Jaylen Hoard Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
24. ^ "William Howard Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
25. ^ "Damien Inglis Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
26. ^ "Joffrey Lauvergne Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
27. ^ "Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
28. ^ "Ian Mahinmi Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
29. ^ "Theo Madelon Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
30. ^ "Jérôme Moïso Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
31. ^ "Adam Mokoka Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
32. ^ "FRA – Noah cleared to play for France". FIBA. October 8, 2007. Archived from the original on September 28, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
33. ^ "Joakim Noah Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
34. ^ "Frank Ntilikina Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
35. ^ "Elie Okobo Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
36. ^ "Tony Parker Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
37. ^ "Johan Petro Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
38. ^ "Mickaël Piétrus Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
39. ^ "Vincent Poirier Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
40. ^ "Yves Pons Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
41. ^ "Antoine Rigaudeau Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
42. ^ "Robert Riley profile". FIBA. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
43. ^ "Bob Riley Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
44. ^ "Zaccharie Risacher Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
45. ^ "Rayan Rupert Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
46. ^ "Tidjane Salaün Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
47. ^ "Alex Sarr Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
48. ^ "Olivier Sarr Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
49. ^ "Kevin Séraphin Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
50. ^ "Pape Sy Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
51. ^ "Killian Tillie Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
52. ^ "Axel Toupane Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
53. ^ "Ronny Turiaf Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
54. ^ "Victor Wembanyama Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
55. ^ "Guerschon Yabusele Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
56. ^ Reynolds, Bill (2005). Cousy: His Life, Career, and the Birth of Big-Time Basketball. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 23. ISBN 0-7432-5476-7.

## See also

[edit]

* List of foreign NBA players