Rayan Rupert Bio
Rayan Rupert is a French professional basketball player who currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA) on a two-way contract with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. Standing at 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) and weighing 205 lb (93 kg), he plays the shooting guard and small forward positions. Rupert first rose to attention as a top international prospect before being selected 43rd overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Born on May 31, 2004, in Strasbourg, France, Rupert is of Martiniquais and Moroccan descent. He is the son of Thierry Rupert, a former EuroLeague player and captain of the French national team. His family background in elite basketball helped shape his path into the professional game, and he has steadily developed his career across France, New Zealand, and the United States.
Early Life and Background
Rayan Rupert was raised in Strasbourg, in the Alsace region of northeastern France. Growing up in a household with deep basketball roots, he was exposed to high-level competition from an early age. His father Thierry Rupert had built a distinguished career in European basketball, and the influence of that environment played a major role in shaping Rayan’s ambitions on the court.
Rupert attended the prestigious INSEP Academy, a national sports institute in France known for producing many of the country’s top athletes. While there, he continued to develop his physical tools and basketball IQ, training alongside some of the most promising young French prospects of his generation. His combination of size, length, and skill made him a notable name within French youth basketball circles.
His family heritage extends beyond his father. Rupert is of Martiniquais and Moroccan descent, giving him a multicultural background that has been part of his identity growing up in Strasbourg. He also has a sister, Iliana Rupert, who was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, confirming the strong athletic tradition within the family.
Path to Basketball
Rupert’s journey to professional basketball began in the French youth system, where he joined Centre Fédéral in 2019. The Centre Fédéral program, based in Paris, is one of the most respected development pathways in French basketball, and it gave Rupert his first exposure to senior-level competition in the NM1, the third tier of French basketball.
After two seasons with Centre Fédéral, Rupert moved to Pôle France for the 2021–22 season, where he continued to play in the NM1. Pôle France serves as the top development program for elite young French players, and his time there further refined his perimeter skills and court awareness. His performances in these development leagues established him as one of the top international prospects heading into the 2023 NBA Draft.
Looking for a higher level of competition, Rupert signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL on June 10, 2022, as part of the league’s Next Stars program. The Next Stars initiative is designed to give elite young prospects a professional platform to prepare for the NBA. During the 2022–23 NBL season, Rupert showcased his two-way potential, which helped solidify his status as a draft-ready prospect. The Breakers had previously seen fellow Frenchmen Hugo Besson and Ousmane Dieng selected in the 2022 NBA Draft, adding to the program’s reputation for developing NBA talent.
Rayan Rupert Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Between 2019 and 2021, Rupert played for Centre Fédéral in the French NM1, where he gained valuable experience competing against seasoned professionals at a young age. His performance during this period drew attention from scouts across Europe, and he quickly became one of the most talked-about teenage prospects in French basketball.
In the 2021–22 season, Rupert moved to Pôle France, continuing his development in the NM1. His progression through both Centre Fédéral and Pôle France positioned him as a legitimate candidate for the NBA, and his decision to test himself in a stronger professional league in Australia the following year reflected his ambition and readiness for the next step.
New Zealand Breakers Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Rupert joined the New Zealand Breakers ahead of the 2022–23 NBL season through the Next Stars program. The move to Australia represented his first experience outside of French basketball, and it gave him the chance to compete in a physical, professional league that has produced several recent NBA players.
Throughout the 2022–23 season, Rupert demonstrated the perimeter shooting, defensive versatility, and length that had made him such a highly regarded prospect. His performance in the NBL boosted his draft stock and helped convince NBA scouts that he was ready to make the jump to the highest level of professional basketball.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2023–2026)
Rupert was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft with the 43rd overall pick. On July 4, 2023, he officially signed with the Blazers, beginning his NBA career. Throughout his rookie and sophomore seasons in Portland, Rupert was frequently assigned to the Rip City Remix, Portland’s NBA G League affiliate, where he continued to develop and earn meaningful minutes.
During his time with the Trail Blazers organization, Rupert worked on expanding his offensive game and gaining strength to compete against NBA-level wings. The two-way nature of his development with both the Blazers and the Remix allowed him to gain professional experience while still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NBA. He was waived by the Blazers on February 20, 2026, ending his Portland tenure.
Memphis Grizzlies Era (2026–Present)
On February 22, 2026, Rupert was signed to a 10-day contract by the Memphis Grizzlies. Following the expiration of that short-term deal, Memphis signed him to a two-way contract on March 4, with the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League serving as his G League affiliate.
A standout moment during his early Grizzlies tenure came on April 5, when Rupert recorded his first career triple-double. He compiled 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, all career-highs, although the Grizzlies fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 131–115. The performance signaled his growing impact and versatility as a two-way contributor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rupert’s selection as the 43rd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft marked the formal beginning of his NBA career. His first career triple-double with the Memphis Grizzlies on April 5, 2026, where he set new career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists in a single game, stands as one of his most significant individual accomplishments to date.
Rayan Rupert Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Rupert comes from a family with an extensive basketball pedigree. His father, Thierry Rupert, played in the EuroLeague and served as captain of the French national team, giving Rayan direct exposure to the highest levels of European basketball. His sister, Iliana Rupert, was the 12th overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, continuing the family’s tradition of producing professional basketball talent. Rupert also has a cousin, Kameron Jones, a cancer survivor and chemistry major at UMBC.
Personal Life
Of Martiniquais and Moroccan descent, Rupert grew up in Strasbourg, France, where his basketball journey first took shape. His family’s deep ties to the sport, particularly through his father’s EuroLeague and national team experience, have been a guiding influence on his career. He trained at the renowned INSEP Academy, where many of France’s top athletes develop their skills.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was an important stretch in Rupert’s continued development within the Portland Trail Blazers organization. Splitting time between the NBA roster and the Rip City Remix, he worked to refine his offensive game, defensive instincts, and physical conditioning as he adjusted to the demands of full-time professional basketball.
Through his assignments to the G League, Rupert earned consistent playing time and the opportunity to take on expanded roles, which helped him grow as a perimeter scorer and playmaker. His progress in the Remix rotation contributed to his overall readiness for NBA minutes whenever he was called upon by the Trail Blazers.
Heading into the next phase of his career, Rupert’s 2025 experience positioned him to compete for a more stable NBA role, ultimately leading to his move to the Memphis Grizzlies organization in early 2026. The combination of G League reps and NBA exposure throughout the year laid the foundation for the breakout moments that followed.
