Hornets select Tidjane Salaün, of France, with 6th overall pick in NBA Draft

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Hornets selected 18-year-old Tidjane Salaün, of France, with the sixth overall pick in the NBA Draft.

He’s now the third player from France selected in the Top Ten of this year’s draft.

The 6-foot-9 forward was named the 2023-24 Basketball Champions League Best Young Player and earned MVP honors at the 2023 Trophy of the Future tournament, the Hornets stated.

He was in the 2023 Basketball Without Borders camp at All-Star weekend in Indianapolis and represented France at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.

The Paris native averaged 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 54 games (40 starts) this season across all competitions with Cholet Basket of the LNB Elite league, France’s top division, the Hornets stated.

In the video at the top of this webpage, Channel 9 sports director Phil Orban talks to Salaün about him being drafted into the NBA.

Stories from the draft

Click or tap each link to see Channel 9′s stories from the 2024 NBA Draft special:

>>‘It’s an opportunity’: Hornets Coach Charles Lee talks day one priorities

>>‘Get better and have fun’: Hornets’ Miller credits teammates, confidence for lofty rookie season

>>DJ Burns set for draft day after NC State’s Cinderella run

>>Hundreds working on first phase of Spectrum Center renovations before next Hornets season

>>Hickory native hopes dream of playing in NBA becomes a reality

>>‘I was fortunate’: Grant Williams works to give back to his hometown

VIDEO PLAYLIST BELOW: Eyewitness News Live at the 2024 NBA Draft

Hornets on the clock

With back-to-back seasons finishing near the bottom of the standings, nearly a decade since the last playoff appearance, and two decades since they’ve advanced past the first round, the Charlotte Hornets need a shakeup.

This offseason, they got one from the top down. Owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin got their first full offseason to put their stamp on the organization:

• A new head coach in Charles Lee
• A new front office
• And a facelift on the way for the Spectrum Center

A history of sixth picks

The Hornets have never actually picked sixth overall, but plenty of other teams have hit home runs from that spot.

Damian Lillard was taken by the Portland Trailblazers in 2012 - he was the rookie of the year and is an eight-time NBA All-Star.

In 2001, the Vancouver Grizzlies selected Duke star Shane Battier with the sixth pick. His 13-year career saw him win two NBA titles, and he was named to the all-defensive team twice.

And we can’t forget about one of the best players in NBA history. Larry Bird was drafted at number six by the Celtics in 1978. Bird was a three-time champion, three-time NBA MVP, and he was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1998.

>>Watch at 7 p.m. as Eyewitness News’ Phil Orban is live at the draft, and see stories from DaShawn Brown in the leadup to the Hornets’ next season.

(VIDEO: Rising star Brandon Miller attends Hornets Hoops Summer Camp)

Rising star Brandon Miller attends Hornets Hoops Summer Camp

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