The 2025 NBA draft is less than a month away, but what if some teams are already looking ahead to the 2030 NBA draft?
That just might be the case for Mohamed Dabone from Burkina Faso, a tiny west African nation of 22 million people. Just 13 years old, Dabone is already 6-foot-10.
A video shared on social media shows Dabone already possessing an NBA physique, characterized by incredible length and strength. He is a member of the U18 FC Barcelona team, and this season he is averaging 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
During the 2024 Endesa Mini Cup, a U14 event, Dabone won MVP, averaging 18.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.
It's not the first time a young phenom showed off at the event; a 13-year-old Luka Doncic won MVP at the 2013 Endesa Mini Cup.
Dabone was born Oct. 21, 2011, so he still has at least five years before he can join the NBA. His father, Ibrahim Dabone, played amateur basketball, and his mother, Fatoumata, was a professional volleyball player.
Several fans were shocked at Dabone's highlight reel and shared their surprise in the comment section.
"6’10 at 13 is ridiculous ð," said one fan.
"Nah bro! 13 years old ð," replied one skeptical fan.
"He gotta be made in a lab wtf," read a reply.
"No way he’s 13 ð¤£," said another fan in disbelief.
Mohamed Dabone
Mohamed Dabone wins the MVP award at the Endesa Mini Cup.
X/@Nizzague
"At 13 his bounce is already insane. NBA gonna have to raise the rims to 11’ by 2050ð," joked one fan.
"LeGiannis Wembanyama Jamesð¥," replied another fan.
Speaking of Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, he also got a very early start to his professional career. At 15, he played with Nanterre 92 of the LNB Pro A (now known as the LNB Élite). Like Wemby, Dabone could be on a meteoric career trajectory.
With early hype and already playing professional basketball with one of the most well-known clubs in Europe, Dabone will have all eyes on him in the coming years.