Sidy Cissoko Bio
Sidy Cissoko is a French professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), currently on a two-way contract with the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. A shooting guard listed at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and 220 lb (100 kg), Cissoko has developed through European development programs and the NBA G League on his way to the NBA. He was selected 44th overall in the 2023 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs before eventually landing in Portland.
Born and raised in France, Cissoko began his professional career in 2021 in Spain and has since built a reputation as a versatile guard with international experience. His path from Spanish youth basketball to the NBA reflects steady improvement across multiple competitive levels.
Early Life and Background
Sidy Cissoko was born on 2 April 2004 in Saint-Maurice, France. He grew up in a family connected to basketball, as his father, Yaya, also known as Yakia, was a basketball player who represented Senegal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Cissoko began playing basketball from a young age and, being shorter than many of his teammates growing up, looked up to NBA guard Kyrie Irving as a model for his own game.
He reached the under-15 level with CTC Center Essonne in France, gaining early competitive experience in the country’s youth system. In 2017, at 13 years of age, Cissoko moved to Spain to join the youth ranks of Baskonia, a respected Spanish club. During the 2020–21 season, he played with the Baskonia reserves in the fourth-tier Liga EBA and averaged a team-leading 17.4 points per game, while also leading the Baskonia under-18 team in points and assists in the junior national championship.
Path to Basketball
Cissoko’s professional journey began when he was called up to the Baskonia first team ahead of the 2021–22 ACB season. On September 26, 2021, he made his senior debut for Baskonia at 17 years old, appearing briefly in a 72–61 loss to Joventut Badalona. Shortly after, Baskonia loaned him to its satellite club, Iraurgi SB, in the second-tier LEB Oro, where he averaged 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists across 32 games while continuing to train with the senior squad.
In 2022, Cissoko was invited to play in the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, recording three points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in 23 minutes for the World Team. That same year, he represented France at the FIBA U18 European Championship, averaging 11.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game, further raising his international profile.
Sidy Cissoko Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Cissoko opened his professional career with Baskonia in Spain, splitting time between the first team, the reserves in Liga EBA, and a developmental loan at Iraurgi SB in LEB Oro. He gained valuable minutes in Spain’s professional ranks while adjusting to the physical and tactical demands of European basketball. His time with Iraurgi SB helped him refine his playmaking skills and adjust to faster, more physical competition.
His development in Spain earned him national team opportunities with France’s under-18 program, where he competed at the 2021 FIBA U18 European Challengers and the 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship, demonstrating his ability to contribute as a scorer, rebounder and playmaker at the international youth level.
NBA G League Ignite (2022–2023)
On July 19, 2022, Cissoko signed with the NBA G League Ignite, becoming the first European player to join the developmental program. At the time of his signing, he was ranked the third-best European prospect in his class by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, behind countrymen Victor Wembanyama and Rayan Rupert. Cissoko joined a roster designed to prepare elite young players for the NBA, training in a professional environment with experienced coaching.
He was selected to compete in the Rising Stars Challenge at the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend and was one of 24 players named to the G League’s inaugural Next Up Game, both signature recognitions of his rising stock. Across 28 regular-season games with the Ignite in 2022–23, Cissoko averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 29.3 minutes per game, including a stretch of five consecutive 20-point performances between February and March 2023. On March 29, 2023, he announced he would enter the 2023 NBA draft.
San Antonio Spurs Era (2023–2025)
Cissoko was selected with the 44th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs and signed with the team on July 27, 2023. He spent most of his rookie and sophomore seasons with the Austin Spurs in the G League, while making brief NBA appearances with San Antonio. He made his NBA debut on November 20, 2023, playing four minutes in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
With Austin, Cissoko posted a 22-point, nine-rebound, two-assist and two-steal performance in his regular-season debut on December 28, 2023, and went on to average 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29.3 minutes per game for the G League club. On February 3, 2025, he was part of a multi-player trade that sent him to the Sacramento Kings, before being moved again two days later to the Washington Wizards and waived. On February 8, 2025, Cissoko signed a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, finding a more permanent home in the NBA.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2025–Present)
Joining the Portland Trail Blazers on a two-way contract gave Cissoko a fresh opportunity to compete at the NBA level. He appeared in five games for the Trail Blazers late in the 2024–25 season, averaging 2.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists, while continuing to develop his game in the G League with the Rip City Remix. His two-way deal reflects Portland’s investment in his long-term potential and provides a pathway between the NBA roster and G League minutes.
On February 20, 2026, Cissoko’s two-way contract was converted into a standard NBA deal with the Trail Blazers, marking a significant milestone in his career. The move signaled the organization’s confidence in his development and secured his place on the main roster heading into the next phase of his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
While he is a basketball player rather than a driver, Cissoko’s on-court style emphasizes versatility, scoring and playmaking. He has demonstrated the ability to score at multiple levels, distribute the ball to teammates and contribute on the defensive end with active hands. His experiences in Spanish basketball and the G League have helped him develop a balanced skill set that translates between different styles of play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Cissoko’s career highlights, his 2022 appearance at the Nike Hoop Summit and his selection to the 2023 NBA G League Next Up Game stand out as signature early milestones. He was also the first European player to sign with the NBA G League Ignite and the first French player drafted in 2023, underscoring his role in opening pathways for European prospects in the modern NBA development system.
Sidy Cissoko Career Wins
Sidy Cissoko’s career is still in its early stages, but he has accumulated notable performances and recognitions across European basketball, the G League and the NBA. His development has been marked by consistent statistical contributions and selection for high-profile events, rather than major championship titles at this point in his career.
NBA G League Highlights
With the G League Ignite in 2022–23, Cissoko averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 28 games, with a season-high 24 points recorded twice. He later joined the Austin Spurs, where he averaged 15.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, including a 22-point debut performance against the South Bay Lakers. He was also named to the 2023 NBA G League Next Up Game, a recognition reserved for top emerging talent in the league.
Other Wins & Performances
At the youth international level, Cissoko represented France at the 2021 FIBA U18 European Challengers and the 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship, leading his team in scoring and playmaking in both events. He also participated in the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit, contributing across the stat sheet for the World Team in a high-profile international showcase.
Sidy Cissoko Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basketball runs in the Cissoko family. His father, Yaya, also known as Yakia, played basketball at the international level and represented Senegal at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. This connection to the game helped shape Sidy’s early development and gave him a direct link to high-level competition from a young age.
Personal Life
Sidy Cissoko was born and raised in Saint-Maurice, France, and later relocated to Spain at 13 to pursue basketball development with Baskonia. Public details about his personal relationships, marital status or children are not widely documented at this stage of his career, and he remains focused on his professional trajectory in the NBA.
2025 Season Performance
Cissoko’s 2025 season was defined by change and new opportunity. After spending the bulk of his time in the G League with the Austin Spurs early in the year, he was part of a major trade in early February 2025 that moved him from San Antonio to Sacramento, then to Washington, where he was briefly waived before signing a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on February 8. He appeared in five NBA games to close the season, averaging 2.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
With Rip City Remix in the NBA G League, Cissoko continued to log significant minutes and develop his game, building on the foundation established in Austin. The Trail Blazers’ two-way framework allowed him to split time between the NBA and G League rosters, gaining exposure at the highest level while refining his consistency.
Looking ahead, the conversion of his two-way contract into a standard NBA deal with the Trail Blazers in February 2026 reflects a vote of confidence in his long-term potential. The 2025 season ultimately served as a transitional year, positioning Cissoko for a more prominent role within Portland’s organization as he continues to grow as a young French guard in the NBA.
