Noah Penda Bio
Noah Penda (born 7 January 2005) is a French professional basketball player who plays for the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League, on assignment from the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. A versatile forward standing 6 feet 7 inches tall, Penda developed through the French club system before being selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He previously played for JA Vichy-Clermont and Le Mans Sarthe in France’s top professional divisions.
Across youth and senior levels, Penda has built a reputation as a high-motor forward with strong rebounding, playmaking instincts, and a competitive edge in late-game moments. His rapid rise through French basketball, combined with international success at multiple age-group tournaments, has positioned him as one of the most promising young French players of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Noah Penda was born on 7 January 2005 in Paris, France, and grew up in the nearby commune of Bondy. As a child, he explored several sports before settling on basketball, sampling football, judo, swimming, and tennis during his early years. Those varied athletic experiences helped shape the well-rounded skill set he would later bring to the court.
Penda began playing organized basketball as a youth for BC Fontenay before moving on to the clubs Villemomble and Levallois. During the 2019–20 season, he averaged 19.5 points across 11 games for the Levallois U15 squad, a breakout stretch that caught the attention of France’s elite development pathway. That summer, he joined Centre Fédéral de Basket-ball, one of the country’s most respected national training centers.
As a Centre Fédéral player, Penda was promoted to compete in the Nationale Masculine 1, the third tier of French basketball, during the 2020–21 season at just 15 years old. He appeared in 13 games and averaged 2.9 points, then returned for the following season and raised his average to 10.6 points, signaling his readiness for senior professional basketball.
Path to Basketball
Penda’s professional career began in June 2022, when he signed his first contract with JA Vichy-Clermont of the LNB Pro B, the second tier of French basketball. The move came at age 17 and offered him a meaningful role in a competitive senior league. He appeared in 37 games during the 2022–23 season, averaging 3.9 points as he adjusted to the physical demands of professional play.
In his second season at Vichy-Clermont, Penda made a significant leap, again playing 37 games while averaging 9.5 points and 5.9 rebounds. His improvement earned him second-team All-LNB Pro B honors from Eurobasket.com, along with the league’s Best Young Player award. These performances established him as one of the top young prospects in French basketball.
In June 2024, Penda took the next step in his development by signing with Le Mans Sarthe Basket of the LNB Élite, France’s top professional league. Despite being only 19 years old, he immediately earned a starting role and saw significant playing time in his first season with the team.
Noah Penda Career
Early Career (2022–2024)
Penda’s first two professional seasons at JA Vichy-Clermont provided a foundation for his rapid growth. After a quiet debut year, he emerged as a consistent contributor in his second season, demonstrating improved scoring, rebounding, and defensive awareness. The Best Young Player recognition he received at the end of that campaign validated his developmental progress and drew attention from top-tier French clubs.
His performance in LNB Pro B also translated to the international stage. Penda represented France at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup, averaging 7.5 points across six games, and later helped France finish second at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup. These experiences against elite age-group competition prepared him for the jump to France’s highest league.
Le Mans Sarthe Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Penda’s arrival at Le Mans Sarthe in the summer of 2024 marked the clearest indication yet of his professional ceiling. Playing as a starter in the LNB Élite, he averaged 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over the course of the season, producing at a level uncommon for a teenager in France’s top flight.
His play was rewarded with two major individual honors. In January 2025, Penda was selected as an LNB All-Star and participated in the league’s Young Star Game, where he was named Most Valuable Player. Following the conclusion of the season, he was named the LNB Pro A Best Young Player, cementing his status as the top young talent in French professional basketball.
Orlando Magic Era (2025–Present)
Heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, Penda was viewed as a potential prospect by several NBA front offices. The Orlando Magic ultimately acquired his draft rights from the Boston Celtics and selected him with the 32nd overall pick. The trade gave Orlando a young, athletic forward with international experience and a proven track record of improvement.
Following the draft, Penda was assigned to the Osceola Magic, Orlando’s NBA G League affiliate, where he continues his development. The assignment allows him to receive meaningful minutes and refine his game against professional competition as he works toward an expanded role with the parent club.
Playing Style and Strengths
Penda is known for his versatility as a forward, combining rebounding strength with the playmaking vision of a guard. He reads the floor well, makes accurate passes out of double teams, and has shown the ability to hit timely shots, including a memorable game-winning buzzer beater for France’s U20 team. His motor, defensive effort, and poise under pressure have defined his style since his youth days.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Penda’s signature moments is a buzzer-beating shot against Spain in the quarterfinals of the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, where he lifted France to a 74–72 victory with the game on the line. He also won the U20 EuroBasket championship that summer, was named MVP of the LNB Young Star Game in 2025, and earned LNB Pro A Best Young Player honors the same year.
Noah Penda Career Wins
Penda’s most significant career win to date came in the summer of 2024, when he helped France capture the FIBA U20 EuroBasket championship. Across his professional career, he has also earned multiple individual awards, including LNB Pro B Best Young Player, second-team All-LNB Pro B, LNB Pro A Best Young Player, and LNB Young Star Game Most Valuable Player honors. He was selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.
International Highlights
Penda has represented France at three major FIBA youth tournaments. He played at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup, helped France reach the final of the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, and won the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, where he averaged 11.7 points across seven games and delivered the championship-clinching buzzer beater in the quarterfinals.
Noah Penda Family
Personal Life
Public information about Noah Penda’s family and personal life is limited. Born and raised in the Paris region, he comes from a sporting background that encouraged his early participation in multiple disciplines. Further verified details about his parents, siblings, or relationships are not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
Penda’s 2025 season has been defined by transition. After a breakout year with Le Mans Sarthe that produced All-Star recognition and the LNB Pro A Best Young Player award, he entered the NBA Draft and was selected 32nd overall by the Orlando Magic via a trade with the Boston Celtics. He now operates within Orlando’s development pipeline, splitting time between the parent club and its G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic.
His assignment to the G League allows Penda to adjust to the pace, physicality, and spacing of the American professional game while continuing to log starter-level minutes. The Orlando Magic have prioritized his long-term development, providing a clear pathway toward an expanded NBA role as he adapts to the league’s demands.
Looking ahead, Penda’s outlook remains promising. His combination of international experience, professional production in France’s top league, and proven late-game composure make him a strong candidate for an increasingly prominent role with Orlando in the seasons to come.