Nolan Traore

Nolan Traore spent his professional career with Pôle France, in the third tier of French basketball, and his progression was noticeable in the three years he spent with the club. He averaged 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game across 11 appearances (and 10.8 minutes per game) in his first year in 2021-22, but that figure improved to 11.2 and 16.8 points per game, respectively, in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He left Pôle France midway through the 2023-24 campaign, though, and moved all the way up to the first tier of the country after signing with Saint-Quentin of the LNB Élite. Despite joining the club midway through the season, Traore averaged 10.3 points, 5.4 assists and 1.4 rebounds per game in seven appearances. He became a regular in the 2024-25 campaign and posted even better numbers, with averages of 11.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest across 22.8 minutes per game in 29 contests. Scouts will rave about Traore's potential and athleticism, as he's a player who looks more than ready to play at the NBA level from a physical perspective. He has excellent vision for his age, above-average speed and an elite acceleration that makes him not only the fastest player in this class, but one of the fastest players in the NBA if he ends up being drafted. Plus, he also has an outstanding bounce and a tool of physical abilities that should get most scouts excited. He also understands how to create his own shot, and his playmaking ability is above-average as well. There are areas in which he needs to improve, though. If there's one area in which he needs to improve, it's defense. Traore has plenty of potential but may need reps in an NBA offense to get more comfortable. With his speed and upside as a passer, he can draw comparisons to Scoot Henderson and John Wall. He could earn backup reps to start his career before transitioning into a bigger role.