Ulm forward takes global route to NBA.
Noa Essengue is a rising French basketball talent ready to break into the NBA spotlight. Born in Orléans, France, Essengue picked up a basketball at just four years old. He trained at the prestigious Centre Fédéral de Basketball, France’s elite developmental program. In the 2025 NBA draft, Essengue was selected by the Chicago Bulls as the 12th pick.
Showcasing immense potential, the forward featured for the senior side and played in the National Masculine 1 league. In 2023, Noa Essengue signed with Ratiophram Ulm in Germany. He first featured for Orange Academy, Ulm’s developmental affiliate in the German system. Noa produced significant numbers in the 2024-25 season averaging 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists with shooting efficiency at 56%. Essengue opted to develop his game in Europe instead of taking the traditional NCAA path.
Welcome to Chicago, @NoaEssengue! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/y7Zcda0F7N
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) June 26, 2025
Essengue was born on December 18, 2006, in Orleans, Loiret (France). He is currently aged 18-years-old.
Noa’s 6’10” height gives him a clear advantage on both ends of the floor. This size is valuable especially when switching defensively or disrupting passing lanes, where his extended frame creates a challenge for opposing defenses.
The forward weighs 194 lbs which gives him the speed and agility necessary to excel in the NBA. His lean build helps him outrun defenders in transition and recover quickly on the defensive end.
With a wingspan of nearly 7-foot, Noa Essengue has an extended defense reach. It also helps him finish plays around the rim and connect on alley-oops.
A maximum vertical leap of 35.5 inches provides Noa with an athletic trait to finish in transition, secure contested rebounds, and challenge opponents with timely shot blocking opportunities.
Maintaining that explosiveness across a full season will require elite conditioning and strict injury management. His jumping ability is something he’ll need to monitor as physical tolls accumulate.
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