Nolan Traoré Shines and Rudy Gobert Dominates

Nolan Traoré Shines for Brooklyn as French Players Light Up NBA Parquets

Nov. 2, 2026, brought a busy slate across the NBA, featuring a dozen French players logging minutes on the hardwood. Standing out amid the pack, Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traoré delivered his second performance in a row as a starter just days after earning his first career start. Following a stellar outing against the Indiana Pacers, the former Saint-Quentin playmaker earned another nod in the starting five against the New York Knicks. Traoré poured in 17 points, hitting five of his six attempts from beyond the arc while adding four assists and three rebounds.

Despite the offensive showcase, foul trouble in the third quarter forced Traoré’s minutes to be managed, a disruption that contributed to the Nets’ 103-90 loss and a flat finish to the game.

Rudy Gobert Dominates the Paint While Zaccharie Risacher Struggles

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert returned to the starting lineup after resting against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. Gobert wasted no time making his presence felt, posting his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 112-110 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The veteran big man also highlighted his night with a behind-the-back dime to teammate Jaden McDaniels, though he missed another attempt from deep. Gobert remains without a career three-pointer since entering the league in 2013, stretching his streak of misses to 25 attempts.

Further down the Timberwolves’ bench, Joan Beringer made a strong case for consistent minutes. The Alsatian center finished with two points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, posting a plus-minus of 10 in his time on the floor. On the opposing side, Ousmane Dieng remained glued to the bench for the second straight contest.

It proved a much tougher outing for Zaccharie Risacher. After a promising start to the campaign with the Dallas Mavericks, the former top draft pick faltered during a 115-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Risacher failed to score on three field goal attempts and recorded the worst plus-minus on his team, finishing with 19 points more allowed by his team when the forward was on the floor.

Rotational Minutes for Emerging French Talents Across the League

Mohamed Diawara expanded his footprint with the squad, logging six minutes of floor time against the Nets after playing just 73 seconds on Oct. 27, though he managed only one rebound without scoring. Teammate Pacôme Dadiet did not check into the game.

In Detroit, Moussa Diabaté battled through a loss against the Pistons, recording seven points, nine rebounds, and two assists over 24 minutes, while adding three steals. Fellow youngster Tidjane Salaün capitalized on the extended minutes to play 19 minutes, pulling down seven rebounds alongside two steals and two blocks, though he struggled offensively by shooting 0-for-5 from the field.

Meanwhile, Bilal Coulibaly provided steady secondary production for the Washington Wizards in a victory over the Orlando Magic. Coming off the bench following the return of A.J. Dybantsa from injury, Coulibaly logged 33 minutes to finish with seven points, one rebound, two assists, and three blocks, with compatriot Alex Sarr sidelined by injury.

Noa Essengue and Sidy Cissoko Deliver Strong Performances in Recent Games

Noa Essengue continued his adaptation with the rebuilding Chicago Bulls, chipping in eight points and six rebounds in 14 minutes during a 126-107 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Essengue shot 3-for-7 from the field, including one triple. Rayan Rupert also saw his first action of the season for the Sixers, scoring his first two points of the year.

Out West, Sidy Cissoko delivered a flawless shooting night for the Portland Trail Blazers, converting all three of his attempts for eight points and three assists in 22 minutes. That effort helped Portland secure a 118-110 victory in Denver—the franchise’s first win in Denver since 12 years ago—pushing the Trail Blazers to a 5-1 record and third place in the Western Conference standings.

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