Thierry Darlan

Thierry Darlan
Born	(2004-02-03) February 3, 2004 Bangui, Central African Republic
Occupation	Professional basketball player
Years active	2022–present
Known for	Playing for Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League; Central African Republic national team member

Thierry Serge Darlan (born 3 February 2004) is a professional basketball athlete from the Central African Republic currently playing for the Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League. Having developed his talents at the NBA Academy Africa based in Senegal, Darlan also competes internationally for the Central African Republic national team.

Early career

Originating from Bangui, Darlan enrolled at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal when he was 16 years old. In 2022, he received an invitation to participate in the Nike Hoop Summit held in Portland but was unable to compete due to injury. That same year, he took part in the Basketball Without Borders camp in Cairo, where he was honored as the Most Valuable Player.

Initial BAL appearances (2022)

Darlan began his professional journey in 2022 by joining Angolan side Petro de Luanda through the BAL Elevate initiative. He played a role in guiding the team to the 2022 BAL Finals, posting averages of 4.3 points and 2 rebounds per contest.

Later in November 2022, Darlan spearheaded the NBA Academy squad during the Road to BAL 2023, leading his team with an average of 23 points and 5.7 assists per game, contributing to two victories over established professional teams from across the continent.

NBA G League Ignite tenure (2023–2024)

On 2 March 2023, Darlan chose to pursue a professional route by signing with the NBA G League Ignite, foregoing collegiate basketball despite receiving scholarship offers from programs such as Arizona, Kansas, and Santa Clara. He officially inked his contract with Ignite on 25 May. Although he faced an ankle injury and intense competition for minutes, he averaged 4.7 points and 4.3 rebounds across 18.1 minutes per game during the 2023–24 season.

Bangui Sporting Club stint (2024)

On 4 April 2024, Bangui Sporting Club revealed Darlan as part of their roster for the upcoming 2024 BAL season. In his first game against Al-Ahly Ly, he contributed 7 points. Subsequently, he achieved personal bests with 23 points and 14 rebounds in a defeat facing reigning champions Al Ahly. On 25 April, Darlan entered his name into the 2024 NBA draft but withdrew his candidacy later on.

Rip City Remix engagement (2024)

Following his selection in the 2024 NBA G League draft, Darlan joined the Rip City Remix on 26 October 2024.

Delaware Blue Coats acquisition (2025–present)

Darlan was traded to the Delaware Blue Coats on 4 January 2025 in exchange for the rights to Armoni Brooks.

National team career

Darlan made his debut for the senior squad of the Central African Republic during the 2023 World Cup qualifying rounds in 2022, averaging 12.7 points over three contests. His first appearance came at age 18 in July of that year, when he scored 12 points against Guinea.

Player profile

Measuring tall with an extensive wingspan, Darlan plays as a combo guard known for his ability to create opportunities and his defensive adaptability, utilizing his considerable physical presence effectively.

Personal life

Thierry Darlan hails from a family deeply rooted in basketball; his grandfather is Jean Pascal Darlan, and his cousin, Bruno Darlan (born 1961), served as the coach of the Central African Republic national basketball team while Thierry was active. Additionally, he is an avid supporter of FC Barcelona and admires Lionel Messi.

External links

• RealGM profile