Tidjane Salaün

Tidjane Salaün
No. 31 – Charlotte Hornets
PositionPower forward / center
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2005-08-10) 10 August 2005 (age 19)
Paris, France
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2024: 1st round, 6th overall pick
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2024Cholet Basket
2024–presentCharlotte Hornets
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Tidjane Abdoul Salaün (French: [tidʒan salœ̃]; born 10 August 2005) is a French professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Professional career

Cholet Basket

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 one steal per game.[7]

NBA

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)

On 26 June 2024, Salaün 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 Alex 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] He was the second youngest player from his draft class. On 3 July 2024, he signed with the Hornets.[11] He made his summer league debut on July 13 against the New York Knicks with the Charlotte Hornets winning 94–90. He scored 8 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished out an assist in 14 minutes of play.

National team career

Salaün played for the France national under-18 team in the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.[12]

Personal life

Salaün's parents both played basketball. His sister, Janelle Salaün, plays in the EuroLeague Women and for the France women's national team.[6] He is of Guadeloupean descent.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Basket. Leray, Dufeal, Salaun, Bordes… la vie d'après des Espoirs de Cholet". Ouest-France (in French). 30 May 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "NBA Draft Scouting Report: France's Tidjane Salaun". SI.com. Sports Illustrated. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ a b c Givony, Jonathan (25 April 2024). "French teen Tidjane Salaun submits paperwork to enter NBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "NBA announces early entry candidates for NBA Draft 2024". NBA. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  9. ^ Bontemps, Tim (27 June 2024). "Hawks use No. 1 pick on France's Risacher, 19". ESPN. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Charlotte Hornets Sign Tidjane Salaün". NBA.com. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  12. ^ "La France éliminée par l'Espagne en demi-finales de l'Euro U18". L'Équipe (in French). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  13. ^ "NBA: deux joueurs guadeloupéens draftés". guadeloupe.franceantilles.fr. February 6, 2024.