{"id":3450,"date":"2025-04-29T04:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T04:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/3450\/"},"modified":"2025-04-29T04:04:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T04:04:09","slug":"2025-nba-draft-adds-another-international-entrant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/3450\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 NBA Draft Adds Another International Entrant"},"content":{"rendered":"

An ever-growing pool of African prospects, headlined by Duke center Khaman Maluach<\/a>, just got larger with Malagasy guard Mathias M\u2019Madi declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft. Initially reported by DraftExpress\u2019s Jon Chepkevich ahead of the weekend<\/a>, M\u2019Madi released an official statement on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying in the NBA is my ultimate goal,\u201d he writes (h\/t AfricaBasket editor-in-chief Ayo Biyibi). \u201cI will continue working hard to continue improving.\u201d<\/p>\n

2025 NBA Draft Adds International Entrant Mathias M\u2019Madi<\/p>\n

A 6-foot-5 guard, M\u2019Madi played for CB Mor\u00f3n in Spain\u2019s Primera FEB in 2024-25. Across 32 games, the 19-year-old averaged 7.1 points and 1.0 steal in 17 minutes per contest. He wasn\u2019t particularly efficient or effective on either end of the ball, but his shiftiness and shot-making capabilities were constantly put on display.<\/p>\n

CONFIRMED: 6\u20195\u201d Madagascan \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddec guard Mathias M\u2019Madi has declared for the 2025 @NBADraft<\/a>.<\/p>\n

M\u2019Madi averaged 13.3 PTS, 5.7 REB, and 4 AST for Madagascar \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddec during their historic @AfroBasket<\/a> qualification run and posted 7.1 PTS, 1.5 REB for CB Mor\u00f3n in Spain\u2019s \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 Primera FEB this\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/e9A7a4nB9W<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u0394\u00a5\u03a9\u2122 (@iam_Ayo) April 27, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

M\u2019Madi did put up stronger numbers during the 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers.<\/p>\n

Mathias M\u2019Madi (2005) showed his on-ball creativity and shotmaking, driving Madagascar to qualify for #AfroBasket<\/a> 2025.<\/p>\n

He put pressure on the rim and was a threat pulling up from mid and long range. He also made plays for others in transition and the PnR. pic.twitter.com\/sLTI46pPyy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ngijol Songolo (@5ongolo) February 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

In the three games he played, he averaged 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 steals per contest, all while shooting 47.8 percent from the field. Notably, Madagascar was just 1-2 when M\u2019Madi played. However, he was instrumental in a narrow victory over Egypt\u2019s experienced squad.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Madagascar was able to qualify for the 2025 AfroBasket Tournament<\/a>. The field also includes teams like Nigeria and South Sudan, which have earned respect on the international stage.<\/p>\n

Will He Be Drafted?<\/p>\n

Because of M\u2019Madi\u2019s age, teams could look at him as a draft-and-stash prospect, hoping to set his curriculum from afar.<\/p>\n

Regardless of that, like many international prospects, an invite to the NBA Draft Combine would be beneficial. For starters, it puts him in the room with NBA scouts and executives that may not be familiar with him. In addition, it allows him to show how he measures up against prospects who have already left a positive impression.<\/p>\n

With that being said, timing can matter quite a lot when it comes to a player\u2019s draft stock. International intrigue, especially for players that have experience in European leagues, can\u2019t be discounted either. So, while M\u2019Madi is a relatively unknown, it\u2019s not out of the realm of possibility that he could still hear his name called on Draft Day.<\/p>\n

If so, he would be the first Malagasy player to make it to the NBA out of the 93<\/a> that are known.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 David Banks-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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