Ben 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, Saraf moved to Israel as a young child and developed into one of the country’s most promising guards. A versatile combo guard listed at 6 feet 6 inches and 200 pounds, he combines scoring instincts with strong playmaking vision. Since beginning his professional career in 2022, he has built a résumé that includes stints in Israel and Germany, an NBA draft selection, and international recognition with Israel’s youth national teams.
Early Life and Background
Ben Avraham Saraf was born on April 14, 2006, in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Israeli parents. His father, Yedid Saraf, worked in the diamond industry in South Africa before the family returned to Israel when Ben was three years old. He grew up in Moshav Gan Yoshiya, a small community in the Emek Hefer Regional Council, where sports were part of daily life.
Basketball runs deep in the Saraf family. His mother, Ella Amir Sharaf, grew up on Kibbutz Givat Haim and played for the Israeli women’s national team, as well as several years in Israel’s second basketball division. His father Yedid also played one season for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. Ben attended Ramot Yam Emek Hefer high school, where he continued to sharpen his game before turning professional.
Path to Basketball
Saraf’s path to the professional ranks accelerated quickly. He joined the Israeli under-16 national team for the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship, leading the entire tournament in scoring with 24.3 points per game. That performance earned him a spot on the 2022 European U16 All-Tournament Team and signaled that he was ready for senior-level competition at a young age.
By the time he was 16, Saraf had signed his first professional contract with Elitzur Netanya in the second-division Israeli Basketball National League. His scoring and playmaking earned him recognition as both the league’s Rookie of the Year and Sixth Player of the Season in 2023, setting the stage for a move to the top Israeli division the following summer.
Ben Saraf Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Saraf began his professional career with Elitzur Netanya of the Israeli Basketball National League during the 2022–23 season. Playing as a teenager, he averaged 14 points, 3.3 rebounds, and three assists per game, showing a poise well beyond his age. His strong play did not go unnoticed, and in April 2023 he was named the National League’s Sixth Player of the Season and Rookie of the Year.
That rookie season established Saraf as one of the top young guards in Israeli basketball. His ability to score efficiently while creating shots for teammates made him an attractive target for clubs in the country’s top division, and his reputation continued to grow through his youth national team performances.
Israeli Premier League Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On July 11, 2023, Saraf signed with Elitzur Kiryat Ata of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, stepping up to the top flight of Israeli basketball. In his only season with Kiryat Ata, he averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and one steal per game. He adjusted to the higher level of competition quickly, demonstrating the scoring range and passing vision that scouts had tracked for years.
At the conclusion of the 2023–24 campaign, Saraf was named the Israeli Basketball Premier League Rising Star. The award confirmed his status as one of the most talented young players in the country and positioned him for a move to a top European league.
Ratiopharm Ulm Era (2024–2025)
Saraf signed with Ratiopharm Ulm of the German Basketball Bundesliga on June 20, 2024, taking his first step into elite European basketball. Playing for head coach Ty Harrelson, he was given a major role on a contending roster and helped lead Ulm to the Bundesliga finals. His experience in a high-level professional environment helped him refine his pick-and-roll reads, defensive footwork, and on-ball defense.
Across the 2024–25 Bundesliga season, Saraf averaged 12.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. His play in Germany validated his status as a legitimate NBA prospect and prepared him for the rigors of a draft class full of international talent.
Brooklyn Nets Era (2025–Present)
Saraf was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft on June 25, 2025. The selection came one pick after the Nets took Danny Wolf with the 27th pick, marking the first time in NBA draft history that two Israeli players were chosen by the same team. Before Saraf, only three Israelis had been drafted and played in the NBA: Omri Casspi, T. J. Leaf, and Deni Avdija.
He signed a guaranteed two-year contract with the Nets, worth $2.4 million in his rookie season and $2.52 million in his second year. On December 15, 2025, Saraf was assigned to the Long Island Nets, the franchise’s G League affiliate, to continue his development. His path in Brooklyn combines NBA minutes with regular G League reps as the organization invests in his long-term growth.
Driving Style and Strengths
Saraf is a tall, skilled combo guard who uses his 6-foot-6 frame to see over defenders and finish at the rim. He excels as a pick-and-roll playmaker, reads the floor with poise, and can play on or off the ball at both guard positions. His scoring versatility ranges from pull-up jumpers to driving lanes, and he has shown the defensive length to guard multiple positions at the next level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Saraf’s most notable milestones include leading the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship in scoring, winning MVP honors at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket, and becoming part of the first pair of Israeli players drafted by the same NBA franchise. His selection by Brooklyn marked the fourth Israeli player ever drafted into the NBA.
Ben Saraf Career Wins
Saraf’s list of career wins reflects steady, year-by-year development across leagues and age groups. Although he has yet to capture a senior league championship, his individual awards and team accomplishments have marked him as one of Israel’s top young basketball talents.
Israeli League Highlights
In 2023, Saraf was named both the Israeli Basketball National League Sixth Player of the Year and the National League Rising Star. The following season, after moving to the top division with Elitzur Kiryat Ata, he was honored as the Israeli Basketball Premier League Rising Star in 2024, an award that recognized his immediate impact at a higher level of play.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Saraf led the 2022 FIBA U16 European Championship in scoring with 24.3 points per game and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He followed that by winning MVP honors at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket after averaging 28.1 points and four steals per game, helping Israel finish fourth. With Ratiopharm Ulm, he reached the 2024–25 Bundesliga finals.
Ben Saraf Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball is a central part of the Saraf family. His mother, Ella Amir Sharaf, played for the Israeli women’s national team and spent several years in Israel’s second basketball division, while his father, Yedid Saraf, played one season for Bnei Herzliya Basket in the Israeli Basketball Premier League. The family moved from South Africa back to Israel when Ben was three, settling in Moshav Gan Yoshiya in the Emek Hefer Regional Council.
Personal Life
Saraf is an Israeli national who grew up in Moshav Gan Yoshiya and attended Ramot Yam Emek Hefer high school. He comes from a Jewish family with deep ties to Israeli sports, and his upbringing in a small moshav helped shape his work ethic and team-first mentality on the court.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year has been the most important of Saraf’s young career. He wrapped up his only Bundesliga season with Ratiopharm Ulm by helping the club reach the league finals, then declared for the 2025 NBA draft, where the Brooklyn Nets selected him 26th overall. He signed a guaranteed two-year rookie contract and joined the franchise’s summer roster with a clear development plan in place.
During the early portion of his rookie NBA season, Saraf split time between the Brooklyn Nets and the Long Island Nets, having been assigned to the G League affiliate on December 15, 2025. The dual affiliation is designed to give him consistent on-court reps while he adjusts to the speed and physicality of professional basketball in North America.
With Brooklyn investing in his long-term growth, the outlook for the remainder of the 2025–26 season is built around patience, skill refinement, and gradual increases in responsibility. Saraf’s track record of producing at every level he has played suggests he will continue to trend upward as he gains experience in the NBA system.
