Last Updated on June 1, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Tidjane Salaün entered the NBA as a young forward with intriguing long-term potential thanks to his size, athleticism, and versatility. Although still early in his development, he has shown flashes of the two-way skill set that made him a highly regarded prospect and an interesting player to watch for the future.

Here’s detailed information about Tidjane Salaün:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Tidjane Abdoul Salaün
  • Nationality: French
  • Age: Born August 10, 2005
  • Hometown: Paris, France
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Weight: 207 lbs (94 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 2 inches (218cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 17 (US)
  • Number: Wears #31 with the Charlotte Hornets
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Not applicable (developed through French basketball system)
  • College: Did not attend college; played professionally in France
  • Professional Career:
    • Cholet Basket (2022–2024):
      • Signed first professional contract on July 10, 2023.
      • Averaged 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1 steal per game during the 2023–24 season.
    • Charlotte Hornets (2024–present):
      • Selected 6th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
      • Signed with the Hornets on July 3, 2024.
  • Championship Rings: None
  • National Team Career
    • Represented France at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings:
    • Sister: Janelle Salaün, professional basketball player in the EuroLeague Women and member of the France women’s national team.
  • Family Background:
    • Both parents were basketball players.
    • Of Guadeloupean descent.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Tidjane Salaün’s player archetype is that of a long-term upside combo forward: a rangy, energetic developmental wing-forward whose appeal comes from size, mobility, defensive versatility, and the possibility of growing into a two-way floor-spacer. Defensively, he projects as an active multi-positional piece who can cover ground, switch across lineups, apply pressure, and create steals or deflections with his length and motor, even though his technique and consistency are still catching up to his tools. Offensively, his role is built more around finishing plays than running an offense, with straight-line drives, transition finishing, cutting, offensive rebounding, and spot-up shooting forming the backbone of his value while his handle and on-ball creation continue to develop. Physically, Salaün brings uncommon forward size at 6’10” and roughly 207 pounds, and evaluators have highlighted his mobility, athleticism, toughness, and plus length as major parts of his profile. Altogether, his play style is raw but intriguing: a high-energy modern forward who flashes shooting touch, open-floor force, and defensive range, with much of his ceiling tied to how much polish he adds as his game matures. (NBA)

Fun Facts

  • He gained attention during his time with Cholet Basket and was a top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Sources:

NBA.com — NBA 2024 Draft Prospects | Tidjane Salaun | NBA.com
NBA.com — Tidjane Salaün | Forward | Charlotte Hornets
Sports Business Classroom — Scouting Cholet Forward Tidjane Salaun
Peachtree Hoops — 2024 NBA Draft scouting report: Tidjane Salaun
NBADraft.net — Tidjane Salaun