Is Ben Saraf The STEAL Of The NBA Draft?

Is Ben Saraf The STEAL Of The NBA Draft?

the Nets were one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 NBA draft whether it be taking Jagor Deon at eight using all five first round picks or using them all on guards no one could get a read on their plan however I want to speak about one of the picks specifically number 26 guard Ben Serif out of Israel they called him Israeli D’Angelo Russell on the broadcast and you can see the similarities in the two lefties games many online were quick to say that sounded like the worst player ever but I don’t think that’s fair if you land a one-time all-star and a starter for a decade with the 26th pick that is a massive massive win he’s a 66 creator with a slow methodical pace to his game he doesn’t seem to get rushed by any defenders and takes shots that many would not i don’t think they’re bad selections but like Russell in Brooklyn is quick to go from a casual dribble to a pull-up he’s gotten a lot of hate after the draft due to being born in South Africa and being from Israel i hate to see that those are things he can’t control and are not fair criticisms let’s focus on his game on the court he scored nearly 19 points per 36 last season to go along with seven assists the production in a pro league was impressive the biggest concern is the three-point shooting at 29.6% from deep but over 45% as a guard from the field suggests he’ll be an efficient player overall my composite stat ranking had him as the 17th best player in this class making him good value at pick 26 is Ben Sif the steel of the draft let’s take a deeper look before we get more into Brooklyn’s most intriguing pick if you enjoy my content and watch a few videos of mine think about subscribing 96% of my viewers are actually not subscribed so if you watch me before and enjoy the content drop a sub and comment down below it really helps the channel like several of Brooklyn’s selections ESPN had Ben Serif ranked lower than where the Nets took him landing him at number 31 overall after the pick Sarif spoke with Israeli media sharing his excitement and gratitude he also highlighted his bond with Danny Wolf whom the Nets selected immediately after him the two have long-standing ties having played together on Israeli youth national teams “this is a dream,” Sarif said from Germany where he’s still competing in the Bundus League finals “just being drafted is amazing but to do it alongside Danny and in Brooklyn it’s something I’ll never forget.” Wolf echoed the emotion in his post-draft interview calling the moment a surreal reward for years of hard work he added that joining a team in a city with such a strong Jewish and Israeli presence makes this even more meaningful sarif led Israel’s U19 national team to a fourth place finish at last year’s European Championship earning tournament MVP honors after averaging an impressive 28 points per game he also topped the scoring charts for Israel’s U16 team in 2022 putting up 24 points per game sarif is just 19 years old as are four of the Nets’s five recent picks while Danny Wolf selected right after him is 21 wol a dual USIsraeli citizen who played for Israel in 2023 joined Sarif and going back to back in the draft making a landmark night for Israeli basketball by this point in the night a clear trend had emerged international point guards who struggle to score and defend but absolutely love to pass “is this the skill Shawn Marks in the Nets draft room were zeroing in on?” “Yeah I think that goes handinhand with IQ and how they play the game,” said Nets GM Shawn Marx “in basketball you catch and make a decision you don’t hold the ball.” And where we’re going with this is trying to build a brand of basketball that not only translates to winning but fits the Brooklyn community it’s where the NBA is headed players who can guard multiple positions play multiple roles and make life difficult for defenses among Brooklyn’s rookie class Sif might end up the best guard draft slot aside at 66 he has a polished handle excellent balance and smooth stop start movement while he’s not the most explosive athlete he’s shown the ability to run point at a high level logging heavy minutes in Germany’s top league that’s why he wasn’t in Brooklyn on draft night but Marks offered insight into what drew the Nets to the Israeli guard starting with his workload i think Ben’s probably played if not 70 close to 70 games this year Mark said factoring in Sarah’s FIA schedule he’s basically played a full NBA season already at 19 years old i love Ben’s toughness he’s cerebral creative a terrific passer and he moves the ball incredibly well watching him play you can just see it the level he’s playing at stood out to us in a big way the Nets kept firing darts in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft sif might be their bullseye thanks for watching i’m Herm have a good one

The Brooklyn Nets were one of the most unpredictable teams in the 2025 NBA Draft — and no pick better represents that than No. 26 overall: Israeli guard Ben Saraf. Dubbed the “Israeli D’Angelo Russell” on the broadcast, Saraf’s selection drew mixed reactions, but there’s a lot more to his game than people realize.

In this video, we take a deep dive into why Saraf might be the steal of the draft. He’s a 6’6″ creator with a smooth, controlled pace, elite passing feel, and an ability to score in crafty, unorthodox ways. At just 19, he’s already played nearly a full NBA-length season in the German Bundesliga and led Israel’s U19 team to a fourth-place finish in Europe — earning tournament MVP with over 28 points per game.

Despite concerns about his 3-point shooting, Saraf’s overall efficiency and professional experience stand out. He’s smart, unbothered by pressure, and already forming a strong bond with fellow Nets rookie Danny Wolf. While some fans were quick to judge the pick, Brooklyn’s front office sees something real: a high-IQ guard built for modern basketball.

Is Ben Saraf a future NBA starter? Could he be Brooklyn’s next hidden gem? Let’s take a deeper look.

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