With international leagues temporarily paused as national teams compete in FIBA qualifying windows, now is a perfect moment to take stock of what we’ve learned so far in the important realm of noncollegiate draft prospects ahead of the 2025 NBA draft.
As teams scour Europe, Australia, South America, Africa and Asia for NBA quality talent, the consistent feedback has been that this is not only a stacked 2025 draft class with U.S.-based players (especially a loaded freshman class), but there are also at least 10 international players aiming to be first-round picks, with another dozen or so vying for second-round consideration.
It’s important to note the 2026 draft seems to be tracking as one of the weakest we’ve seen from an international standpoint in years, which could result in some players eligible for the 2025 draft putting their NBA dreams on hold for a year.
With that context in mind, here’s who we consider the 10 best prospects in the international class, including one American who is competing in Mexico City via the G League:
Jump to a player:
Traore | Gonzalez | Saraf | Essengue | Ruzic
Beringer | Zikarsky | Pate | Grunloh | De Larrea
Honorable mentions
1. Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin (Pro A/BCL), France
Age: 18.4 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 184
Projected draft range: 4-10
Traore has taken his lumps through a brutal early-season schedule, with spectacular play mixed in with difficult moments. He has struggled with scoring efficiency, turnovers, porous defense and playing with the physicality of elite-level European competition.
He’s shooting just 42% on 2-pointers and 30% for 3s with an 18% turnover percentage, contributing to a poor 99.6 offensive rating, well below what NBA scouts would hope from an elite prospect. The level of competition he’s facing as an 18-year-old point guard explains some of these struggles, but his minus-11.6 net rating is going to raise some eyebrows if that figure doesn’t improve as the season moves on.
Nevertheless, Traore’s talent has been on display with his ability to get to spots on the floor with outstanding ballhandling, playmaking creativity, and difficult shotmaking prowess, giving him a high ceiling for his height. He is being held accountable by a demanding coaching…
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