If selected for the 2025 NBA Draft, they would become the first pair of Israelis drafted in the same year since 2006, when Lior Eliyahu and Yotam Halperin were both picked in the second round.
By Shula Rosen
As the 2025 NBA Draft begins Wednesday, two rising Israeli basketball players, Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf, are set to make history.
If selected, they would become the first pair of Israelis drafted in the same year since 2006, when Lior Eliyahu and Yotam Halperin were both picked in the second round.
Wolf, a 7-foot center who most recently played for the University of Michigan, has emerged as one of the most fascinating prospects. He’s also the first Israeli ever invited to the NBA Draft green room, which is reserved for top-tier prospects.
Wolf “can do big man stuff like rebound and block shots,” as well as “all this ball-handling and creation and passing,” said NBA writer Robert Flom, comparing him to Boris Diaw, according to The Forward.
Wolf averaged 13.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 blocks this past season. He also helped lead Israel’s under-20 national team to a silver medal in the European Championships.
“Growing up in a Jewish household, having Jewish beliefs and faith, I’ve never really been able to experience something like I have this past month,” Wolf told The Forward. “Just being able to represent Israel in a way that I haven’t been able to do in the past is something that I shouldn’t take for granted.”
ESPN expects Danny to be chosen 22nd by the Atlanta team, but CBS Sports and The Athletic, among others, predict he could be picked earlier—around 17th by the Minnesota team. One NBA insider, Marc Stein, suggests he could be picked as early as 10th by the Phoenix team.
Ben Saraf, a 19-year-old guard who played for German club Ulm this season, is also garnering attention. Described as a “crafty” playmaker, Saraf wears the No. 77, which he chose because it corresponds to the Hebrew word mazal (luck).
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!