Tidjane Salaun, a French-born basketball prodigy and a top-15 prospect for the 2024 NBA draft, was born to basketball player parents Pierre and Inna Salaun. The Cholet Basket’s power forward’s sister is also a rising women’s basketball star in France.
Salaun’s older sister, Janelle, plays for the LFB club Villeneuve d’Ascq and represents France’s women’s basketball team in international tournaments.
The Salaun family’s basketball background influenced him to draw a roadmap to the NBA. The 6 feet 9 inches tall basketball player got enthusiasm and athletic genes from his parents. Tidjana started playing basketball at seven, following his family tradition and has since never looked back.
Having played at local clubs in Paris suburbs, he spent a few years in Charenton before he joined Cholet Basket’s U-21 team in 2021. In 2023, he signed with the Cholet’s senior team and turned pro. Moreover, he represented France in the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.
Take a detailed insight into Salaun’s family background, supportive parents, and influential sister.
Key Takeaways:
- Tidjane Salaun is a French basketball forward born into a family of basketball enthusiasts.
- The 6 feet and 9 inches tall player’s parents are Pierre-Oliver Salaun, and Inna Sissoko.
- Salaun’s mother, Inna, a former national player, is a flight cabin manager.
- Tidjane’s older sister, Janelle, also plays basketball for the France Women’s National Basketball team and the French League.
- He was also named FIBA Champions League Best Young Player 2024.
Tidjane Salaun’s Parents Have Basketball Background: What Do They Do Now?
Salaun, born on August 10, 2005, in Paris, France, is the youngest of two children of his parents. His father is Pierre Salaun, and his mother is Inna Sissiko. Both his parents used to play basketball.
Given that basketball genes were in the family from the beginning, his dad and mom carved and guided paths for their children to pursue a basketball career for good. During his interview with ESPN, the French basketball player gave a brief outline of how his parents shaped his gameplay and ethics,
“Our parents kept our feet on the ground while supporting us in everything we did. I just followed Janelle.”
Tidjane’s father, Pierre-Oliver Salaun, has not revealed his professional venture after his post-basketball playing career. He is active on X, where he frequently shares posts about his kids, Tidjane and Janelle (his daughter).
Mr. Salaun is dedicated to motivating his children through his posts and statuses and appreciating what they have achieved with their hard work and determination. He is undoubtedly a proud father who loves to express his love and support for his son and daughter.
Tidjane’s mother, Inna Sissiko, is a flight cabin manager and cabin crew member at EasyJet (August 2003—present) in pairs, France. As reported, she is a former French national-level basketball player.
She is also active on X and shares pictures of her son and daughter. Inna likes to post about the games and events where Tidjane and Janelle play for their respective teams. She has an Instagram account (@inna_sissoko) but has switched it to private.
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Tidjane Salaun’s Older Sister, Janelle, Is Also A Pro Basketball Player
The Chloet Basket player is the younger brother of French women’s basketball player Janelle Salaun. She was born on September 5, 2001, in Paris, France.
Janelle has played for the French basketball club Villeneuve d’Ascq since 2020 and also for the French women’s basketball team. She has proved herself through multiple winnings and achievements.
With the national team, she won gold medals at the 2017 European Under-16 Championship and the 2021 Konya U20 Challenger. As a part of the senior team, he helped France win a bronze medal at the 2023 European Championship.
She shares reels and photos of games and plays on her Instagram account, with over 5.7k followers.
The 6 feet 3 inches tall player discovered her passion for basketball at a young age. During her amateur career, she played basketball for AS Orly (2013-2015). Then, she played for Reims Women’s Basketball Club (2015-2016).
Before entering a professional career, she was committed to the Federal Center (2016-2019). She is one of the best defenders in her age group in Europe. The Cholet player’s sister won the U16 European Championship 2017 and a silver medal.
Later, she was signed by Flames Carolo Basketball for the women’s basketball league. Janelle played for the team during 2019 and 2020 before moving to Villeneuve-d’ Ascq. In 2020, she signed with Villeneuve’d’ Ascq and has been committed to the team since.
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Tidjane Salaun Is A Potential Top-15 Pick In The 2024 NBA Draft
The young French basketball forward Tidjane declared for the 2024 NBA draft in late April 2024. His stats average 9.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. While speaking with ESPN, he shared that the NBA has always been his dream and recently became his goal.
He is one of the youngest players to declare for the NBA draft.
The NBA draft will occur over two days in New York City on June 26 and 27 this year. The first round will occur at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the second round will be held the next day at ESPN’s studio in Manhattan.
Salaun is projected to be a top-15 pick (first round) in the draft. With many eyes already on this young forward’s potential, an opportunity to echo his name globally and prove his worth awaits him. At such a young age, he has already reached a promising height of skill and performance that will likely bring him into a larger frame through the NBA.
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Dipin Yogi brings five years of experience in writing and translation to StarBiographer. A Bachelor of Science graduate, he believes in learning by doing and counting skills over academics. Professionally working since 2018, he’s had a wide array of experience—from writing in-depth entertainment articles to guiding team members with his strong grasp of creativity.
