Ben Saraf

Ben Saraf
Saraf with Ulm in 2025
No. 77 – Brooklyn Nets
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (2006-04-14) 14 April 2006
Johannesburg, South Africa
NationalityIsraeli
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2025: 1st round, 26th overall pick
Drafted byBrooklyn Nets
Playing career2022–present
Career history
2022–2023Elitzur Netanya
2023–2024Elitzur Kiryat Ata
2024–2025Ratiopharm Ulm
2025–presentBrooklyn Nets
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com 
Stats at Basketball Reference 
Saraf with Ratiopharm Ulm in 2024

Ben Avraham Saraf (Hebrew: בן שרף; born 14 April 2006) is an Israeli professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Early life

Saraf is Jewish and was born to Israeli parents in South Africa, where his father worked in the diamond industry.[1][2] The family returned to Israel when Saraf was aged three.[2]

Saraf grew up in Moshav Gan Yoshiya in the Emek Hefer Regional Council in Israel.[3] His father Yedid played one season for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.[3] His mother, Ella Amir Sharaf, grew up in kibbutz Givat Haim and played basketball for the Israeli women’s national team and for a number of years in Israel’s second basketball division.[4][3][5] He attended Ramot Yam Emek Hefer high school.[4]

Professional career

Saraf began his professional career at 16 years old playing for Elitzur Netanya in the second division Israeli Basketball National League. He averaged 14 points, 3.3 rebounds, and three assists per game during the 2022–23 season.[6] In April 2023, he was named the National League's Sixth Player of the Season and Rookie of the Year.[7]

He signed with Elitzur Kiryat Ata of the top division Israeli Basketball Premier League on 11 July 2023.[8] After averaging 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal per game in 2023–24, Saraf was named the Israeli Basketball Premier League Rising Star.[9][10]

Saraf signed with Ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) in Germany on 20 June 2024.[11] At Ulm, he played for coach Ty Harrelson and had a major role on the team, which reached the Bundesliga finals.[12][13][14] He averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists per game in 2024–25.[5]

Saraf was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 26th pick in the 2025 NBA draft on 25 June 2025, side-by-side with American-Israeli Danny Wolf, who was selected with the 27th pick. This marked the first time that two Israeli players were picked by the same team in the NBA draft.[15] Before then, three Israelis were drafted in the NBA draft and played in the NBA: Omri Casspi, T. J. Leaf, and Deni Avdija.[16]

He received a guaranteed two-year contract, for $2.4 million in his rookie season and $2.52 million in his second season.[16]

National team career

Saraf played for the Israel under-16 basketball team in the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship.[17] He led the tournament in scoring with 24.3 points per game and was named to the 2022 European U16 All-Tournament Team.[17][18]

Saraf played for the Israel under-18 basketball team in the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship.[17][19] He again led the tournament in scoring, this time with 28.1 points per game, led the tournament in steals with four per game, was named the tournament MVP, and was named to the 2024 European U18 All-Tournament Team, as Israel finished fourth.[20][17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cohen, Haley (27 June 2025). "The chosen people: Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf selected in the first round of the NBA draft; Wednesday night marked the first time since 2006 that two Jewish players were picked in the same draft". Jewish Insider.
  2. ^ a b Amorban, Efrat (24 June 2025). "Ben Saraf's exciting and fateful week - Israeli player could be headed to the NBA". Ynetnews. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "After Avdiya: The 15-year-old Israeli talent you must know". Ynet. 25 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Meet Ben Sharaf, the next diamond in Israeli basketball". one-co. 24 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Ben Saraf's exciting and fateful week - Israeli player could be headed to the NBA". Ynet News. 24 June 2025.
  6. ^ Narkis, Ziv (25 June 2024). "התקווה הישראלית בדראפט 2026 :תוכן גולשים". Ynet.com (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Eitan Borg is the national player of the season, Ben Sharaf is the sixth player". Sport5. 10 April 2023.
  8. ^ Poplinger, Noa (11 July 2023). "עולה לליגת העל: בן שרף חתם בקריית אתא". Sports Channel (in Hebrew). Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  9. ^ Bernucca, Andrew (17 September 2024). "With Ratiopharm Ulm, Ben Saraf Is in the Perfect Environment". SI.com. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  10. ^ "בן שרף נבחר לתגלית העונה, גיא פלטין שחקן ההגנה". Sports Channel (in Hebrew). 30 May 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Ulm invests in teenage sensation Ben Saraf". EuroleagueBasketball.net. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Next Big Thing: Can Ben Saraf be the next breakout star?". FIBA. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Next Big Thing: Noa Essengue continues rise of future French stars". FIBA. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Saraf and Jessup shine as Ulm steals homecourt advantage from Bayern". Eurohoops.net. 21 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  15. ^ “Israeli hoopsters Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf taken by Nets in first round of NBA draft,” The Times of Israel.
  16. ^ a b "Two more Israelis in the NBA - on a historic night: Ben Sharaf and Danny Wolf were selected by Brooklyn in the draft". Ynet. 25 June 2025.
  17. ^ a b c d "Ben Saraf". Euroleague Basketball. 12 February 2023.
  18. ^ Halickman, Joshua (30 July 2024). "Ben Saraf takes leadership role for blue-and-white at U18 Euros". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  19. ^ Halickman, Joshua (20 August 2024). "Israel's youth basketball team has successful run". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Israeli basketball player Ben Saraf is poised to reach the NBA". Ynet.com. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
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