A new chapter in Israeli basketball history was written on Wednesday night at the 2025 NBA Draft, when the Brooklyn Nets selected Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf with the 26th and 27th overall picks, respectively. It marks the first time two Israelis – or even two Jewish players – have ever been drafted by the same NBA team, in the same round, just moments apart.
“This is a dream,” said Saraf, speaking to reporters from Germany, where he's still competing in the Bundesliga Finals with Ulm. “To be here is one thing, but to be here with Danny, in Brooklyn… it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Wolf, beaming in his post-selection interview, called the moment “a surreal reward for years of hard work,” adding that being drafted by a team in such a strong Jewish and Israeli community “makes this even more meaningful.”
Their selection drew immediate attention – and some surprise – from American media. ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony called Saraf “the Israeli version of D’Angelo Russell,” citing his vision, flair, and pace at 6-foot-6. Yahoo Sports wrote, “No one saw this coming – but Brooklyn clearly sees something long-term here. Saraf has the look of a modern, creative lead guard.”
For Wolf, the praise centered around his versatility as a big man.
“He’s a stretch five who can pass like a wing,” said an anonymous scout quoted by The Ringer. “A super smart kid who fits the modern NBA.”
His game was compared to a “lefty Kelly Olynyk with better playmaking.”
With the selections, Saraf and Wolf become the fifth and sixth Israelis to reach the NBA, joining Omri Casspi, Gal Mekel, TJ Leaf, and Deni Avdija. Unlike their predecessors, though, they’ll share the same locker room – and do it in one of the league’s most unique basketball environments.
Brooklyn, home to the Barclays Center and an intensely diverse fan base, is also a hotbed for Jewish and Israeli culture. The city already hosts major Jewish sporting events and concerts; now it will be home to the most prominent Israeli basketball tandem in NBA history.
The Nets are a franchise in full rebuild mode
After the departure of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and the unsuccessful bridge era led by Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, the team is now stockpiling young talent. Brooklyn entered the 2025 Draft with five first-round picks and used them boldly – selecting Saraf and Wolf alongside French forward Nolan Traoré, Russian wing Igor Demin, and wing scorer Drake Powell.
Saraf, 19, arrives in the NBA with international pedigree. After breaking out in Israel’s second division at 16, he became Rookie of the Year in the Israeli Premier League with Kiryat Ata and then earned MVP honors at the 2024 U18 European Championships, where he averaged 28.1 points per game and led Israel to a fourth-place finish. This season, he averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists per game in EuroCup play with Ulm, drawing praise for his ball-handling, slashing, and creativity. Shooting remains a development area, but the Nets clearly believe in his ceiling.
Wolf’s path was less direct, but no less impressive. After two quiet seasons at Yale, the 6-foot-11 big man transferred to Michigan, where he blossomed into one of the best all-around bigs in the Big Ten. He posted 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, showing an ability to shoot from distance, handle the ball, and defend in space. He also represented Israel’s U20 team in European play, earning a silver medal.
“I went from not playing much in the Ivy League to hearing my name called in the first round,” Wolf said. “I know how much this means back in Israel, and I’m going to do everything I can to represent that on and off the court.”
With both players selected in the first round, each will receive guaranteed contracts – two years fully guaranteed, with team options for a third and fourth season. Saraf is projected to earn about $12.75 million over four years, and Wolf slightly less at around $12m. The duo is expected to debut this summer at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas before reporting to training camp in the fall.
For Israeli fans, anticipation is already building. With Avdija now in Portland, the 2025/26 season will feature at least two NBA matchups between Avdija and the Brooklyn pair – the first Israeli “derbies” in the league since Casspi and Mekel faced off in 2014. And this time, the spotlight will shine even brighter.
In a franchise that’s choosing patience and development over star-chasing, Saraf and Wolf will be given time and structure to grow. The Nets are banking on their skill, character, and potential – and in return, the Israeli basketball world is watching, and hoping, that this unprecedented moment turns into a long-term success story.
“This is just the beginning,” said Saraf. “Now the real work starts.”