From EuroLeague Champion to NBA Aspirant: Eli Ndiaye Signs Two-Way Contract with Hawks

Eli Ndiaye was not selected in the 2025 NBA Draft presented by State Farm, but he has struck a deal to join the Atlanta Hawks on a two-way contract, as reported by ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania shortly after the draft’s second round on Thursday.

The 21-year-old forward has been a staple of Real Madrid’s senior squad for the past three years, contributing to their championship-winning season in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Throughout his career with the club based in Spain’s capital, he has made 67 appearances in Europe’s top-tier competition, averaging 3.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.5 assists per game during the 2024-25 season under coach Chus Mateo.

In terms of domestic accolades, Ndiaye has claimed three ACB championships with Los Blancos, including a title from the recent Liga Endesa 2025 Playoffs, in addition to one Copa del Rey title and three Supercopa Endesa titles. With 83 matches played in Spain’s top division—widely regarded as the strongest league in Europe—the Senegalese-Spanish talent averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game over 36 appearances last season.

In the same draft cycle, fellow undrafted rookie Vladislav Goldin from Russia, who played at NCAA schools Michigan, Florida Atlantic, and Texas Tech, also signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat, according to Charania.

Another undrafted free agent of note is Spain’s Izan Almansa, who spent the past season playing in the NBL with the Perth Wildcats.

Photo Credit: ACB

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