In a groundbreaking moment for Israeli sports history, two Israeli basketball players—Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf—were selected in consecutive picks during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. The selections, made by the Brooklyn Nets with the 26th and 27th overall picks, mark the first time two Israeli players have been drafted back-to-back and could soon become the first Israeli duo to take the floor together in the National Basketball Association.

As reported by The Times of Israel on Thursday, the event is being hailed as a transformative moment for Israeli basketball, underscoring both the growing global footprint of Israeli athletes and the NBA’s deepening investment in international talent.

At just 19 years old, Ben Saraf’s ascent to the NBA is nothing short of meteoric. The six-foot-six native of Moshav Ometz near Netanya has quickly become one of the most exciting young guards in European basketball. Playing last season for Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm, Saraf averaged over 12 points and four assists per game, demonstrating poise, vision, and playmaking flair well beyond his years.

Saraf first gained widespread recognition after dominating the FIBA U18 European Championship, where he earned MVP honors with an electrifying tournament performance: 28.1 points, 5.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 steals per game. As The Times of Israel reported, that performance catapulted him into the consciousness of NBA scouts and executives, setting the stage for his first-round selection.

Due to ongoing obligations with his German club, Saraf was unable to attend the draft in person. His team, Ratiopharm Ulm, is currently locked in a decisive Game 5 of the Bundesliga championship against Bayern Munich, further underscoring his commitment and competitiveness.

Saraf’s journey began in the Israeli basketball system with Elitzur Netanya and later Kiryat Ata, where he quickly matured into a dynamic offensive leader. His trajectory serves as a potent symbol of Israel’s deepening player development pipeline.

Selected immediately after Saraf, Danny Wolf offers a striking contrast in both playing style and personal journey. A 21-year-old forward-center from Illinois, Wolf holds dual citizenship, having acquired Israeli nationality in 2023 to represent the national team in the FIBA U20 European Championship in Greece.

Standing just shy of seven feet tall, Wolf is widely regarded as one of the most versatile big men in this year’s draft. After beginning his collegiate career at Yale University, Wolf transferred to the University of Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to the Sweet 16 in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. His ability to stretch the floor, distribute the ball, and protect the rim caught the attention of NBA scouts—and helped distinguish him in a draft class heavy with traditional centers.

What truly sets Wolf apart, however, is his proud and visible embrace of his Jewish identity. As The Times of Israel reported, Wolf attended Jewish day school until fifth grade, keeps kosher, and celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He has been candid about the antisemitism he encountered following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks, particularly during his time at Yale.

That experience, he told reporters, only reinforced his commitment to representing Jewish and Israeli values on the court. “It’s more than basketball for me,” Wolf said in a recent interview. “It’s about identity, pride, and the responsibility to show what Jewish athletes are capable of.”

Saraf and Wolf now join Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers as the only Israelis currently playing in the NBA. Their selection comes amid a broader surge of Israeli and Jewish representation in U.S. college basketball and professional coaching.

As The Times of Israel report noted, March Madness 2025 featured several high-profile Jewish figures: Israel-born Emanuel Sharp starred for the University of Houston and is expected to enter the draft next year, while Florida’s run to the NCAA championship game was helmed by Israeli-American head coach Todd Golden. Duke’s Cooper Flagg, taken No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks, was coached by another Israeli-American, Jon Scheyer.

Wednesday night also drew attention to the Brooklyn Nets’ aggressive draft strategy. Hosting the event at Barclays Center, the Nets wielded control over five of the 30 first-round selections. In addition to Saraf and Wolf, the team selected BYU’s Egor Demin (No. 8), French guard Nolan Traore (No. 19), and North Carolina’s Drake Powell (No. 22) in a three-team trade with Boston and Atlanta.

The Times of Israel report emphasized that the Nets’ selections signal a bold rebuild underpinned by international versatility, youth, and character—qualities both Saraf and Wolf embody.

While the spotlight often shines brightest on lottery picks, Saraf and Wolf enter the league with significant expectations—and the hopes of a nation behind them. Israeli basketball, once viewed as an exporter of talent only to European leagues, now boasts a burgeoning presence on the NBA stage.

The Times of Israel report aptly described the moment as “a milestone not just for Israeli sports, but for a generation of Jewish athletes seeking visibility and validation on the world’s biggest stage.”