Noa Essengue Enters 2025 NBA Draft, Aims for Top-10 Pick

French forward Noa Essengue, currently ranked as a projected top-20 pick, has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, expressing his lifelong dream of joining the NBA and aiming to become a top-10 pick. The 18-year-old, who plays for ratiopharm Ulm in Germany’s BBL and the EuroCup, is averaging around 10.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game in his second professional season. Essengue credits his decision to join Ulm as pivotal for his development, praising the club’s infrastructure, supportive coaching staff, and opportunities for young players. Despite his youth, he has established a significant role against strong international competition and debuted for France's senior national team at just 17. Essengue highlights his defensive versatility—capable of guarding multiple positions—as a key attribute for his NBA prospects, noting ongoing efforts to improve his overall game. He is one of the youngest entrants in the draft, eligible by just a few days, and has helped Ulm to a top position in the German league.