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Eli Ndiaye continues rapid rise at Final Four

Eli Ndiaye continues rapid rise at Final Four

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20 May 20234 Mins read

Javier Gancedo

Eli Ndiaye continues rapid rise at Final Four

Real Madrid prodigy Eli Ndiaye has been one of the biggest surprises in the latter stages of the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. Ndiaye, who is just 18, took part in 14 regular-season games, averaging 0.7 points and 1.0 rebounds in less than 5 minutes on the court. After working hard for an opportunity, Ndiaye has been able to show what he can do at the business end of the campaign.

Real struggled with frontcourt injuries and absences during its playoff series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, with Gabriel Deck, Guerschon Yabusele, Petr Cornelie and Vincent Poirier all unavailable for selection heading into Game 5. Coach Chus Mateo opted to start Ndiaye at the 4, alongside center Walter Tavares, and he delivered, recording 4 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block in 12 minutes on the floor. It was a career-defining game in which Los Blancos rallied late to down Partizan and make it to the Final Four.

"I was always ready to play"

"Little by little [things have improved]. It has been a very long season and it has been difficult because I didn't see a lot of playing time, but I was always ready to play and ready to help the team at any moment," Ndiaye said from Zalgirio Arena one day before the championship game. "Now, I have the chance to help the team and here I am, trying to give my best."

That start against Partizan was not just a one-off, though. In the semifinal matchup against FC Barcelona, Real's biggest game of the season to that point, Coach Mateo decided to start Ndiaye once again. He did a little bit of everything, getting 2 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block, as well as playing great defense against Barca superstar Nikola Mirotic. When the final buzzer sounded, Real had beaten the Blaugrana 66-78 to reach its second championship game in a row and its first under Coach Mateo, at least in a head coach capacity.

"I want to speak about the way Eli Ndiaye started the game tonight," Real guard Fabien Causeur stated after the semifinal win. "He was spectacular against Mirotic. I want to point it out because when you play a game like this for the first time, confidence is very important. He played tough against him."

"We have injured players and things that happened, but here I am, ready to help the team in any way that I can," Ndiaye commented.

"I am focused on helping the team"

Ndiaye may be an unknown name for most EuroLeague fans, but he has already shown hints of the great player he could become. Born in Guddiawaye, Senegal, Ndiaye joined Real as a 13-year-old back in 2017. He made his Spanish League and EuroLeague debuts last season – he was not even an adult at that point – and he quickly established himself as one of the biggest stars in ANGT history.

In particular, Ndiaye stood out in the 2020-21 ANGT Finals in Valencia, averaging 20.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.4 steals and a PIR of 31.6 in four games, which helped Real lift the title and saw him earn tournament MVP honors. Last season, Ndiaye helped Los Blancos defend their ANGT crown, averaging 14.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in four games in Belgrade, Serbia.

Right now, Luka Doncic is the only player to have been chosen as the ANGT MVP and also become a EuroLeague champion. NDiaye and Alberto Abalde, the 2013 AGNT MVP, can join this list. Don't be surprised if he gets to start in the 2023 EuroLeague Championship Game and, if he does, the 18-year-old would become the youngest player to do so in the 21st century.

"Oh, wow! I hope I can be in that list," Ndiaye noted. "But right now, at this moment, I am focused on helping the team. I hope this will come, but right now I just want to help the team as much as I can, in anything that I might be needed for."