Complete list of international No. 1 NBA Draft picks: Zaccharie Risacher, Alexandre Sarr can join exclusive group | Sporting News Australia

Allez les Bleus…

The 2024 NBA Draft is widely regarded as one of the worst in league history. Still, it’s nothing if not a reflection of how global the game has gotten. Not one, but two international talents — both hailing from France — are pegged as being legitimate candidates for the No. 1 pick.

Alexandre Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher have emerged as real contenders for the top slot in this year’s draft. Assuming one of the duo does hear their name called in the draft’s opening moments, they’ll join foreign-born standouts like Hakeem Olajuwon, Yao Ming and Victor Wembanyama as international prospects to receive the ultimate distinction for a drafted talent.

Here’s a cumulative list of those few and proud international talents who have been selected first overall in the NBA Draft.

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Complete list of international No. 1 picks in NBA history

Just three international players without competitive experience in the United States have earned the distinction of hearing their names called first in the NBA Draft: China’s Yao Ming (2002), Italy’s Andrea Bargnani (2006) and France’s Victor Wembanyama (2023).

Another 11 players who were born outside of the United States’ borders but spent some time playing amateur ball in the U.S. also received the honor: Bahamas’ Mychal Thompson (1978), Nigeria’s Hakeem Olajuwon (1984), Jamaica’s Patrick Ewing (1985), U.S. Virgin Island’s Tim Duncan (1997), Nigeria’s Michael Olowokandi (1998), Australia’s Andrew Bogut (2005), Australia’s Kyrie Irving (2011), Canada’s Anthony Bennett (2013), Canada’s Andrew Wiggins (2014), Australia’s Ben Simmons (2016) and Bahamas’ Deandre Ayton (2018).

Here’s the full list of international players to go No. 1 in the NBA Draft:

*Despite hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Duncan is a U.S. citizen by birth