Nolan Traore

Traore is a French guard who entered the NBA as a first-round pick in 2025 after a decorated developmental career in France. Known for his playmaking, scoring ability, and advanced basketball IQ for his age, he has been considered one of the top young European prospects of his generation.

Born on May 28, 2006, in Chennevieres-sur-Marne, France, Traore is the younger brother of basketball player Armel Traore. He began playing basketball at age four with the club COC Chennevieres and later spent three years with VGA Saint-Maur Omnisports. In 2017, he joined Saint-Charles Charenton and also played for the Pole Espoirs Ile-de-France from 2019 to 2021.

Traore was admitted to INSEP in 2021 and began playing for their affiliated team, Centre Federal de Basket-ball. In the French third tier, Nationale Masculine 1, he averaged 2.2 points in 2021-22, 11.2 points in 2022-23, and 16.8 points in 2023-24. He was their leading player during the 2023-24 season and won the award for best young player in the league.

In the 2024 Adidas Next Generation Tournament against Barcelona, he scored a record 45 points while helping INSEP win in overtime. He was signed to Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball in the French top tier, LNB Elite, in March 2024. He set the all-time league record for most points in a game by a player under 18, with 25 points. He was projected as a lottery pick in ESPN's February 2024 mock draft.

On June 25, 2025, the Brooklyn Nets selected Traore with the 19th overall pick in the NBA draft. On December 15, he was assigned to their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. He has represented France at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship and the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.

Traore is a playmaking guard with size, court vision, and advanced decision-making for his age. His game is built on pick-and-roll execution, finding open teammates, and scoring in the mid-range. His development focus centers on adapting to NBA speed, refining his shooting consistency, and continuing his rapid improvement.