Ben Saraf - NBA Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
Leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, we will track where Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) guard Ben Saraf appears in the latest NBA mock drafts.
Ben Saraf NBA Mock Drafts
Here are some of the latest mock drafts in which Ben Saraf has appeared:
Round 1, Pick 15 — Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)
Israel's Ben Saraf ranks fifth-best among all players in Floor General Skills (FGS) among those with at least five games played in the Eurocup, per Cerebro Sports. He has had his hand on 32.3 percent of buckets as a scorer or distributor, via RealGM, which ranks seventh-best among all players in the Eurocup.
Round 1, Pick 11 — Golden State Warriors
Saraf may end up being the best international player (as in non-college basketball player) in this draft, which was not the expectation just a few months ago. The southpaw has the requisite feel to play in Golden State's system but needs to figure out the shooting.
Bleacher Report — Jonathan Wasserman
Round 1, Pick 10 — San Antonio Spurs
While there's debate about translatability with Ben Saraf, he's reaching rare levels of production, consistency and efficiency (for an 18-year-old in Germany) that will force top-10 teams to ruminate.
Averaging 14.0 points and 4.8 assists (63.3 percent FG) over Ulm's last five games, he's picking the right spots to attack, hitting his mid-range shots and moving the ball with live-dribble passes and basic reads.
Given the effectiveness of his creativity and shotmaking—at his age in Germany's top league with solid 6'5" size for an NBA ball-handler—his draft case continues to look more persuasive by the month.
Averaging 14.0 points and 4.8 assists (63.3 percent FG) over Ulm's last five games, he's picking the right spots to attack, hitting his mid-range shots and moving the ball with live-dribble passes and basic reads.
Given the effectiveness of his creativity and shotmaking—at his age in Germany's top league with solid 6'5" size for an NBA ball-handler—his draft case continues to look more persuasive by the month.
Round 1, Pick 11 — San Antonio Spurs (via CHI)
Saraf is one of my personal favorites in this class. He emerged on the scene quickly this summer, winning the MVP award of the Under-18 European Championships while posting multiple 40-point games and averaging five assists. He then came over to Portland to play in a preseason NBA game and showed up well. He scored 16 points while hitting 3 of 5 from 3 and showed real passing acumen even though he only ended up with two assists. There are worries here, particularly around Saraf's jumper (a lefty shot that comes out of his hand a bit flat at times) and his defensive ability (although I like his instincts and playmaking ability on that end).
He's averaging 12.5 points while shooting 47.2 percent from the field in a pro league in Germany, while also dishing out 4.2 assists per game. He thinks the game at an incredibly high level. Teams will want to learn where they think his body is, and how much improvement can be made to his overall athleticism and explosiveness once he gets into a real strength-training program.
He's averaging 12.5 points while shooting 47.2 percent from the field in a pro league in Germany, while also dishing out 4.2 assists per game. He thinks the game at an incredibly high level. Teams will want to learn where they think his body is, and how much improvement can be made to his overall athleticism and explosiveness once he gets into a real strength-training program.
Round 1, Pick 12 — Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
The Thunder have possibly the deepest roster in the NBA and a stockpile of draft picks, giving them the freedom of selecting the best player available regardless of position or possibly dealing this pick depending on the offer.
Saraf continues to turn in a solid season at Ulm, where he has had success in a playmaking role and showcased his fearlessness and craft as a scorer and passer. Saraf's defense can be a bit of an adventure, and there are some holes in his shot diet, namely his rim-finishing and 3-point shooting (27%). His turnovers (2.8 per game) are a critical area for improvement.
Still, teenage prospects with Saraf's level of size and feel warrant long looks in the first round, and the quality season he is putting together likely could help him in June. -- Woo
Saraf continues to turn in a solid season at Ulm, where he has had success in a playmaking role and showcased his fearlessness and craft as a scorer and passer. Saraf's defense can be a bit of an adventure, and there are some holes in his shot diet, namely his rim-finishing and 3-point shooting (27%). His turnovers (2.8 per game) are a critical area for improvement.
Still, teenage prospects with Saraf's level of size and feel warrant long looks in the first round, and the quality season he is putting together likely could help him in June. -- Woo
Round 1, Pick 14 — San Antonio Spurs
The 2024 Israeli League Premier Rising Star and FIBA U18 European Championship MVP is a quality 6-6 left-handed wing with good touch and feel for picking his spots offensively. When he has the basketball, he can finish in the lane, stop at the elbow and knock down tough shots, or be a distributor with good vision to find his teammates. He presents the tools to be a solid enough defender, although foot speed is a bit of a concern. The one area to improve upon: perimeter shooting.