Breadcrumb Trail LinksBasketballNBAAuthor of the article:Associated PressTim ReynoldsPublished Jun 23, 2025 • 3 minute readFILE - Duke center Khaman Maluach (9) reacts during the second half of a Sweet 16 round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Arizona, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Newark, N.J. Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson /APArticle contentThere’s no Victor Wembanyama in the class headed to the NBA draft this week. There’s no Zaccharie Risacher, either. For the first time since 2022, the first pick in the draft will not be someone from France.Advertisement 2THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsArticle contentWembanyama had that title in 2023. Risacher had it last year. This year, Duke’s Cooper Flagg is almost certain to go No. 1. That doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be a ton of international representation in these 59 picks. Far from it.Article contentArticle contentIt’s not outside the realm of possibility that somewhere around a third of the picks called on Wednesday and Thursday will be players who either originally or currently hail from outside the United States — from the Bahamas, South Sudan, Russia, Canada, China, Australia, Lithuania, Spain, Israel, France and more. Some went to college in the U.S., others will be looking to come play in this country (or Canada, if the Toronto Raptors come calling) for the first time.“The guys who came before us, these are guys that kind of created a path, like prepared the NBA to welcome Europeans and to make life easier for us,” said Stanford centre Maxime Raynaud, a first-round prospect from France. “And I think the best way to pay respect to that is just coming in with the hungriest mentality and the best work ethic possible.”Your Midday SunYour noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 3Article contentRead More Raptors executive talks this week's NBA draft, Brandon Ingram trade and more SIMMONS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins GOAT conversation with Gretzky, Lafleur and Orr NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander now Canada's greatest basketball player The one-third estimate — if it works out that way over the draft nights — might sound like a lot, but it isn’t. It actually is consistent with where the game is now, considering that roughly 30% of the players in the NBA this past season were born somewhere other than the U.S.Some are names that are known in the U.S. from playing in college: Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe hails from the Bahamas and almost certainly will be a top-five pick, and Duke centre Khaman Maluach — originally from South Sudan, and someone still learning the game — is a top-10 candidate.Advertisement 4Article content“If you told me three years ago, I didn’t think I would be sitting here,” Maluach said. “But I knew one day I would be sitting here.”A few stories from the international perspective to watch on Wednesday and Thursday:Noa Essengue, FranceHe is a 6-foot-10 power forward who plays for the German club Ratiopharm Ulm. He is going to be drafted and almost certainly as a lottery pick. Whether he gets to the draft is anyone’s guess; his team is still playing in its league championship series, so getting to New York might be tough. It could clinch Tuesday, so a Wednesday arrival isn’t entirely impossible.Joan Beringer, FranceAt 6-foot-11 with a wingspan of about 7-foot-4, Beringer — who played professionally in Slovenia — is intriguing because of his combination of size, footwork and high-level knowledge of how to play defence. Expect him to go somewhere around the middle of the first round.Advertisement 5Article contentRECOMMENDED VIDEOWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Play VideoHugo Gonzalez, SpainHe debuted with Real Madrid in 2023 and long has been considered someone who’ll lead the next wave of players on Spain’s national team. That is extremely high praise for the 6-foot-6 wing.Nolan Traore, FranceA very intriguing point guard, the 6-foot-3 (but very slender) teenager should be a first-rounder, but where he actually will land is a bit of a mystery. It’s not going to be a surprise if he’s one of at least three Frenchmen in the first 20 or so picks.Hansen Yang, ChinaThe inevitable Yao Ming comparisons will follow Yang into the NBA, but a solid showing at last month’s draft combine have the Chinese centre — who stands 7-foot-1 and still may be growing — listed by many as a serious first-round prospect. He has excellent footwork and passing ability, and he knows he can still get much better.Article contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation Featured Local Savings