Emmanuel Sharp and Noam Yaacov Rising Toward the NBA Draft

Two Israeli guards, Emmanuel Sharp and Noam Yaacov, are expected to be selected in the NBA Draft next week, with Sharp, the son of Maccabi Tel Aviv legend Derrick Sharp, still a possible first-round pick. The article says that in an optimistic but realistic scenario, the coming season could open with five Israelis in the NBA: Deni Avdija in Portland in 2026/27, Dani Wolf and Ben Saraf building on promising rookie signs in Brooklyn, and Sharp and Yaacov entering the league through the draft.

Sharp, who was born in Israel and lived in Herzliya until age 13 before his family moved to the United States, became one of college basketball’s most notable players at Houston, where he reached the Final Four. He is projected as a role player rather than a lead option, valued for his shooting, 37.2 percent from three on seven attempts per game, and 89.1 percent free-throw shooting, along with tough defense. The article says he improved this year in playmaking, defensive physicality and attacking off the dribble, and that the NBA’s current preference for deep, defense-minded teams with multiple shooters may help him. His likely range is 25 to 40, with possible fits including New York, Boston, Minnesota and San Antonio. New York holds picks 24 and 31, and if selected there, he would become the first Israeli in Knicks history.

Yaacov also surged late in the process, moving from a G League camp invitation to an NBA camp and climbing into draft discussions, reaching No. 47 in The Athletic’s latest board. The former Hapoel Tel Aviv guard, described as a physical player with a strong first step, bet on himself by becoming Ostend’s starting point guard this season. The gamble paid off, as he helped the team reach the final and emerged as one of the best players in a weak league, showing impressive plays and noticeable shooting improvement. If he is drafted, he could carve out a bench role as a sixth man who changes games; if not, he is expected to play for Utah and may try to enter the league again after one college season, though not through the draft.

The article notes that fewer players entered the draft this year because of high college salaries, which may have improved Yaacov’s chances. His draft range is listed as 45 to undrafted, with possible landing spots including Orlando, Denver and Houston. The draft format is two rounds of 30 picks over two separate days, first-round picks get guaranteed two-year contracts with two option years, and second-round picks usually receive two-year deals with one option year, though teams are not required to offer them immediately.