Ben Saraf Bio
Ben Avraham Saraf is an Israeli professional basketball player who competes for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on 14 April 2006 in Johannesburg, South Africa, he moved to Israel at a young age and developed into one of the country’s most promising young guards. Saraf began his professional career in 2022 and quickly earned recognition through strong play in the Israeli leagues, along with starring roles for Israel in FIBA youth competitions.
Standing 198 cm and playing a skilled perimeter game, Saraf combines scoring instincts with playmaking vision. He was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 26th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, becoming part of a historic pair of Israeli players chosen by the same franchise in a single draft. He represents a new generation of Israeli basketball talent competing at the highest level of the sport.
Ben Saraf Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Ben Avraham Saraf was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Israeli parents. His father, Yedid Saraf, worked in the diamond industry at the time, and the family later returned to Israel when Ben was three years old. The family is Jewish, and Saraf grew up immersed in Israeli community life after the move from South Africa.
Saraf grew up in Moshav Gan Yoshiya, located in the Emek Hefer Regional Council in Israel. He attended Ramot Yam Emek Hefer high school, where he continued to develop his basketball skills alongside his studies. The rural setting of the moshav provided a quiet environment in which he could focus on training and competition.
Basketball runs deep in the Saraf family. His father, Yedid Saraf, played one season for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, giving Ben an early connection to the professional game. His mother, Ella Amir Sharaf, grew up in kibbutz Givat Haim and played for the Israeli women’s national team, as well as for several years in Israel’s second basketball division. With both parents having competitive basketball backgrounds, Ben’s path toward the sport was shaped from a young age.
Ben Saraf Career
Path to Basketball
Saraf’s path to professional basketball was shaped by the influence of both parents and by the competitive youth circuits in Israel. With a mother who had represented Israel internationally and a father who had played at the top domestic level, he trained in an environment that valued the sport. He progressed through Israeli youth development and soon attracted attention as a high-level guard prospect.
His first significant international exposure came with the Israel under-16 national team at the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship. Saraf led the tournament in scoring with 24.3 points per game and was selected to the 2022 European U16 All-Tournament Team. The performance established him as one of the top teenage talents in European basketball and paved the way for his professional debut.
That debut came at 16 years old, when he joined Elitzur Netanya in the second-division Israeli Basketball National League for the 2022–23 season. He averaged 14 points, 3.3 rebounds, and three assists per game, quickly showing the offensive versatility that had marked his youth career. In April 2023, he was named the National League’s Sixth Player of the Season and Rookie of the Year, signaling his rapid rise through the Israeli system.
Early Career (2022–2023)
Saraf began his professional career with Elitzur Netanya in the Israeli Basketball National League during the 2022–23 season. At just 16, he stepped into a senior role and delivered consistent production as a guard, averaging 14 points, 3.3 rebounds, and three assists per game. His poise and scoring touch were notable for a player his age competing against grown men.
His strong debut season brought two individual honors in April 2023, when he was named the Israeli Basketball National League Sixth Man of the Year and the Israeli National League Rising Star. Those awards confirmed his status as one of the top young prospects in Israeli basketball and laid the groundwork for a move to the country’s top division.
Israeli Basketball Premier League Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On 11 July 2023, Saraf signed with Elitzur Kiryat Ata of the top-division Israeli Basketball Premier League, marking his arrival at the highest level of domestic competition. The step up in competition did not slow his development, as he adjusted quickly to the pace and physicality of the premier league.
During the 2023–24 season, Saraf averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal per game, showing a well-rounded skill set as both a scorer and a facilitator. His play earned him the Israeli Basketball Premier League Rising Star award, further cementing his reputation as one of Israel’s brightest young players. The season gave him valuable experience against experienced professionals and prepared him for an international move.
Ratiopharm Ulm Era (2024–2025)
Saraf signed with Ratiopharm Ulm of the German Basketball Bundesliga on 20 June 2024, taking his game to one of Europe’s top club competitions. At Ulm, he played under coach Ty Harrelson and was given a major role within the team’s rotation, allowing him to develop his game in a high-tempo environment.
During the 2024–25 BBL season, Saraf averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists per game, demonstrating growth as a playmaker and leader. Ulm reached the Bundesliga finals that season, giving Saraf experience on a big stage and exposure to high-level team basketball. His time in Germany sharpened his decision-making and prepared him for the next step in his career.
Brooklyn Nets Era (2025–Present)
Saraf was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 26th pick in the 2025 NBA draft on 25 June 2025, side by side with American-Israeli Danny Wolf, who was chosen 27th. The selection marked the first time two Israeli players were picked by the same team in the NBA draft, a milestone moment for Israeli basketball.
He received a guaranteed two-year contract, with a salary of $2.4 million in his rookie season and $2.52 million in his second season. On 15 December 2025, Saraf was assigned to the Nets’ G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, to gain additional developmental playing time. The assignment reflects a long-term plan by the franchise to bring him along gradually at the NBA level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Saraf is known for his scoring instincts and his ability to create offense for teammates as a guard. He combines perimeter shooting with strong playmaking vision, which was reflected in his assist averages at both Elitzur Kiryat Ata and Ratiopharm Ulm. His height of 198 cm gives him an advantage over many opposing guards on both ends of the floor, and his comfort running a team offense has been a key factor in his rapid rise through multiple leagues.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Saraf’s young career came at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship, where he led the tournament in scoring with 28.1 points per game and in steals with four per game. He was named the tournament MVP and selected to the All-Tournament Team as Israel finished fourth. His selection alongside Danny Wolf by the Brooklyn Nets in 2025 also created a historic draft moment for Israeli basketball.
Ben Saraf Career Wins
Israeli League Highlights
Saraf’s individual honors in Israel reflect his standing among the country’s top young players. He was named the Israeli Basketball National League Sixth Man of the Year and the Israeli National League Rising Star in 2023 while with Elitzur Netanya. The following season, he earned the Israeli Basketball Premier League Rising Star award with Elitzur Kiryat Ata, completing a rapid climb from the second division to recognition at the top level.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Saraf earned selection to the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship All-Tournament Team after leading the event in scoring. He was later named MVP of the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Championship, capping one of the strongest youth tournament performances by an Israeli player. He also reached the Bundesliga finals with Ratiopharm Ulm in 2024–25, adding a deep playoff run to his list of team achievements.
Ben Saraf Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ben Saraf comes from a family with deep ties to basketball on both sides. His father, Yedid Saraf, played one season for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, giving Ben a direct link to top-level Israeli basketball. His mother, Ella Amir Sharaf, played for the Israeli women’s national team and for several years in Israel’s second basketball division, creating a household shaped by competitive sport.
Personal Life
Saraf grew up in Moshav Gan Yoshiya in the Emek Hefer Regional Council and attended Ramot Yam Emek Hefer high school. He is Jewish and holds Israeli nationality, having moved to Israel from South Africa as a young child. He focuses on his professional basketball career and continues to develop as a member of the Brooklyn Nets organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transformative year for Saraf, beginning with his selection by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2025 NBA draft as the 26th overall pick. He signed a guaranteed two-year contract worth $2.4 million in his rookie season and $2.52 million in his second year, giving him financial security as he adapts to the NBA game. His draft selection alongside Danny Wolf created a historic moment for Israeli basketball and underlined Brooklyn’s commitment to international talent.
Through the early portion of the 2025–26 NBA season, Saraf split time between the Brooklyn Nets and their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, after being assigned on 15 December 2025. The G League assignment was part of a developmental plan designed to give him consistent playing time and to help him adjust to the speed and physicality of professional basketball in North America. The arrangement allowed him to refine his skills while remaining within the Nets’ system.
Looking ahead, Saraf’s outlook for the remainder of 2025 and beyond remains promising, given his track record of rapid progression through Israeli, German, and now American basketball. His scoring ability, playmaking vision, and international experience position him as a long-term piece of the Nets’ future. Continued development in the G League and any subsequent return to the NBA roster will be key benchmarks to watch in the coming months.