Noa Essengue Picked 12th by Bulls in NBA Draft

French forward Noa Essengue, 18, left the German League Finals with Ratiopharm Ulm to attend the 2025 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, where he was selected 12th overall by the Chicago Bulls. Previously projected as a top-10 pick by teams like the Brooklyn Nets or Toronto Raptors, Essengue's strong performance in the German playoffs and his athleticism kept him firmly in the lottery conversation. Despite missing NBA team workouts due to his European schedule, scouts were impressed by his size, versatility, and defensive upside. Analysts describe him as a long-term project who needs to add muscle and improve his shooting but see him as a potential draft steal. His decision to prioritize the draft over the finals underscores his NBA aspirations. Essengue is considered one of the most intriguing international prospects in the 2025 draft class.