Finally, the regular season is over! Time for the Play-ins and Playoffs. This season, in the West as in the East, the level was high and our Frenchies worked hard to score, gain playing time and bring out the potential that was placed within them. Before taking stock of the season, let’s take a closer look at which French players are still in the running for the NBA 2024 finals.
The big absentees from the 2024 NBA Playoffs
There were 14 of them at the start of the season representing France. 13 if we forget the unfortunate “Embiid” episode. At the end of the season, the results are much poorer. Some players did not live up to the expectations placed on them and were sent to the G-League while their teams were preforming. Others saw their Playoff hopes disappear after an up-and-down season.
The main absentee from these final stages is also the greatest hope of French basketball, Victor Wembanyama. Drafted by the Spurs in 1st position this season, Wemby will be absent from the 2024 NBA Playoffs. The franchise led by Gregg Popovich seemed to be the perfect base for the French pivot. If the coach’s experience no longer needs to be reviewed and promised the perfect combination to unlock Wembanyama’s potential, the level of the team did not follow. The Spurs finished penultimate in the championship in the West with a very poor record: 22 victories for 60 defeats. The Play-offs remain a distant dream for the French player.
Another big absentee from these final stages is the experienced Evan Fournier. Pillar of the French team and present in the Playoffs last season with the Knicks, he paid for the very bad season of the Pistons. After seeing his playing time decrease in New York during the 2022-2023 season, he was transferred this summer to Detroit in order to maintain significant playing time before the 2024 Olympics. Paris winning? Not really: he and his team didn’t even see a hope with the worst record in the league in the East.
Unqualified French people:
- Victor Wembanyama – San Antonio Spurs: not qualified
- Evan Fournier – Detroit Pistons: not qualified
- Bilal Coulibaly – Washington Wizards: not qualified
- Rayan Rupert – Portland Trail Blazers: not qualified
- Sidy Cissoko – San Antonio Spurs: not qualified
- Moussa Diabaté – LA Clippers: “2 Way Contracts” G-League
- Ousmane Dieng – Oklahoma City Thunder : G-League
- Olivier Sarr – Oklahoma City Thunder : G-League
- Malcolm Cazalon – Westchester Knicks : G-League
- Frank Ntilikina – Sans équipe
- Kilian Hayes – Without a team after being released from his contract by the Pistons.
The French in the race for the NBA title
Fortunately, French supporters can count on two elders of the selection: Nicolas Batum and Rudy Gobert. The 35-year-old winger who plays for the Philadelphia Sixers is coming off a good season with his new team. Ranked 7th synonymous with Play-in, everything is not yet done for this franchise which is paying for the end of the regular season. They will face Jimmy Butler’s Miami Heat for a place in the finals. Not very good news when we remember the ability of this team to raise its level in the quest for the NBA title. But don’t panic, even if they lose, they will have a second chance to qualify by facing the winner of the match between the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors. Batum once again has great opportunities to show his talent and help his team overcome this first test.
WE’RE IN. 🐺 pic.twitter.com/63pWGxc6JP
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) April 2, 2024
Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves are collectively having a tremendous season, despite a major internal crisis. 3rd in the rankings, just one victory behind the Nuggets and the OKC Thunder, they seriously secured their places in the Play-offs by stringing together good results. Rudy Gobert, an important member of the 5 major of this team, once again demonstrated his stature in the racket this season. The 31-year-old pivot, impacting both offensively and defensively for his team, impressed with his consistency and his ability to come out with great matches like his 25 points at 10/10 (Timberwolves records) and his 5 blocks. , made against the Hawks on April 13. The coaches know it, its verticality prevents opposing players from entering the racket and pushes the technical leaders to force 3-point shots. At the end of the season, he continues to demonstrate his leadership role and will certainly be one of the players to follow during these Playoffs.
This season, more than ever, promises its share of surprises for these final phases. At the dawn of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Rudy Gobert and Nicolas Batum enter a decisive final sprint, before heading towards the selection. Big deadlines, but not the time to give up for our two Frenchies who are expected by their respective teams. For Wemby, time to rest and focus now on the Olympic Games.
2024-04-16 08:05:06
#list #French #players #participating #Playoffs
