Ben Avraham Saraf Bio
Ben Avraham Saraf is an Israeli professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on April 14, 2006, in Johannesburg, South Africa, he moved to Israel at the age of three and has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young prospects in international basketball. Saraf was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, becoming the latest Israeli player to reach the world’s premier basketball league. His career trajectory from Israeli youth basketball to the NBA has been marked by consistent excellence, earning him multiple league honors and MVP accolades at the European youth level.
Early Life and Background
Ben Avraham Saraf was born to Israeli parents in South Africa, where his father worked in the diamond industry. The family returned to Israel when Saraf was three years old. He grew up in Moshav Gan Yoshiya in the Emek Hefer Regional Council in Israel, where his athletic lineage became apparent. His father, Yedid Saraf, played one season for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, while his mother, Ella Amir Sharaf, grew up in Kibbutz Givat Haim and represented the Israeli women’s national team in basketball, also playing for several years in Israel’s second basketball division.
Saraf attended Ramot Yam Emek Hefer high school, where he continued to develop his basketball skills while balancing his academic responsibilities. Coming from a family deeply embedded in basketball culture, Saraf was exposed to the sport from a young age, benefiting from the guidance and experience of both his parents who understood the demands and intricacies of professional basketball at the highest levels of Israeli competition.
Path to Basketball
Saraf’s journey to professional basketball began at an exceptionally young age, as he started playing for Elitzur Netanya in the second division Israeli Basketball National League at just 16 years old. His debut season demonstrated his readiness for professional competition, as he averaged 14 points, 3.3 rebounds, and three assists per game during the 2022-23 campaign. His performance drew immediate attention from scouts and coaches across Israeli basketball.
In April 2023, Saraf’s outstanding rookie season was formally recognized when he was named the Israeli Basketball National League Sixth Player of the Season and Rookie of the Year. These accolades solidified his reputation as one of the most talented young prospects in Israeli basketball. His ability to impact games across multiple statistical categories while coming off the bench demonstrated his versatility and basketball intelligence well beyond his years.
Ben Avraham Saraf Career
Israeli Basketball Premier League Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Saraf signed with Elitzur Kiryat Ata of the top division Israeli Basketball Premier League on July 11, 2023. This move represented a significant step up in competition, transitioning from Israel’s second tier to the premier professional league. Playing against more experienced opponents, Saraf continued to flourish, averaging 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal per game during the 2023-24 season.
His consistent production and clutch performances earned him the Israeli Basketball Premier League Rising Star award for the 2023-24 season. This recognition placed him among the elite young players in Israeli basketball history and attracted attention from international scouts. The Rising Star award validated his decision to challenge himself against stronger competition and demonstrated his ability to adapt and excel at the highest level of Israeli basketball.
Ratiopharm Ulm Era (2024-2025)
Saraf signed with Ratiopharm Ulm of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) in Germany on June 20, 2024. This move marked his first experience playing professional basketball outside of Israel. At Ulm, he played under coach Ty Harrelson and quickly became a crucial piece of the team’s rotation. His performance helped Ratiopharm Ulm reach the Bundesliga finals during his debut season.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Saraf averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. His ability to facilitate the offense while maintaining scoring efficiency showcased his dual-threat capability as both a scorer and playmaker. The German Bundesliga experience provided him with valuable exposure to European basketball’s high-paced, team-oriented style, further preparing him for the demands of NBA competition.
Brooklyn Nets (2025-Present)
Saraf was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25, 2025. Notably, he was drafted alongside Danny Wolf, who was selected 27th overall by the Nets. This marked the first time that two Israeli players were drafted by the same NBA team in the same draft class. Prior to Saraf, only three Israeli players had been drafted and subsequently played in the NBA: Omri Casspi, T. J. Leaf, and Deni Avdija.
Upon joining the Nets, Saraf signed a guaranteed two-year contract worth $2.4 million in his rookie season and $2.52 million in his second season. The contract demonstrated the Nets’ commitment to developing his potential. On December 15, 2025, Saraf was assigned to the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, where he could gain additional playing time and experience while continuing to develop his game under the NBA team’s guidance.
Playing Style and Strengths
Ben Avraham Saraf plays the point guard and shooting guard positions, listed at 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) and 200 pounds (91 kg). His size for a guard position provides him with significant advantages in creating shots and defending multiple perimeter positions. Saraf has demonstrated the ability to score at all three levels, finish through contact, and operate as an efficient playmaker. His court vision and passing ability were evident during his time at Ratiopharm Ulm, where his 4.6 assists per game highlighted his distribution skills.
National Team Achievements
Saraf has represented Israel at multiple youth international competitions. At the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship, he led the tournament in scoring with 24.3 points per game and earned a spot on the European U16 All-Tournament Team. He continued his international success at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship, where he led the tournament in scoring with 28.1 points per game and led the tournament in steals with four per game. His exceptional performance earned him the tournament MVP award, and he was named to the 2024 European U18 All-Tournament Team as Israel finished in fourth place.
Ben Avraham Saraf Career Highlights
Throughout his young career, Ben Avraham Saraf has accumulated an impressive collection of individual accolades across Israeli and European basketball. His rapid ascent from youth basketball to becoming an NBA draft pick within three years of turning professional demonstrates his exceptional talent and work ethic.
League Accolades
Saraf’s professional career in Israel began with immediate success, earning the Israeli Basketball National League Sixth Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards in 2023. He followed this by capturing the Israeli Basketball Premier League Rising Star award in 2024, establishing himself as one of the top young players in Israeli basketball history. His transition to European basketball with Ratiopharm Ulm further validated his abilities, as he helped the team reach the Bundesliga finals while averaging double figures in scoring and nearly five assists per game.
International Honors
At the international youth level, Saraf has been nothing short of dominant. His MVP performance at the 2024 FIBA U18 European Championship represented the pinnacle of his international career thus far. By leading both tournaments in scoring and earning All-Tournament Team selections at both the U16 and U18 levels, Saraf established himself among Europe’s elite youth prospects. His 28.1 points per game at the U18 EuroBasket remains one of the highest scoring averages in recent tournament history.
Ben Avraham Saraf Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Ben Avraham Saraf comes from a distinguished basketball family with deep roots in Israeli basketball. His father, Yedid Saraf, played professionally for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, passing down both his love of the game and his professional experience to his son. His mother, Ella Amir Sharaf, represented the Israeli women’s national team at the highest international level and played for years in Israel’s second basketball division.
Growing up in Moshav Gan Yoshiya, Saraf was immersed in basketball culture from an early age. Both parents’ professional experience provided him with unique insights into the game, training methods, and the mental preparations required for professional basketball. This family environment gave him advantages that many young prospects do not have, including understanding the demands of professional sports from an insider’s perspective.
Personal Life
Despite being born in South Africa, Saraf identifies strongly with his Israeli heritage, having grown up in Israel since the age of three. He maintains connections to his hometown community in Moshav Gan Yoshiya while pursuing his professional basketball career in the United States. Saraf’s Jewish faith has been a consistent part of his identity, and he has represented Israel with pride on the international stage, becoming a source of national pride for Israeli basketball fans.
2025-26 Season Performance
Ben Avraham Saraf’s rookie NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets represents the culmination of his rapid rise through professional and international basketball. Drafted 26th overall in June 2025, he joined a Nets organization committed to developing young talent. His transition to the NBA has required adjustment to the league’s increased pace, physicality, and strategic complexity, but his European and Israeli professional experience has provided a strong foundation for this adaptation.
The assignment to the Long Island Nets in December 2025 offers Saraf valuable developmental opportunities. Playing in the G League allows him to log significant minutes, refine his skills, and showcase his abilities in game situations while maintaining close connection to the NBA coaching staff. This dual-affiliate structure reflects modern NBA player development approaches, giving prospects the chance to progress at their own pace while remaining integrated with their parent franchise.
Looking ahead, Saraf’s trajectory suggests he has the tools to become a consistent NBA contributor. His combination of size, scoring ability, and playmaking skills address key needs in today’s NBA. The foundation built through his Israeli and German professional experience, combined with his elite youth international performances, provides him with the confidence and competence to compete at basketball’s highest level. As he continues to develop under NBA coaching and adapt to the league’s demands, Saraf positions himself as a promising building block for the Brooklyn Nets’ future.