PARIS (France) – France will have a very good card to play this summer when it competes at home in the Paris 2024 Olympic Tournament. The list of 19 players preselected for the event promises a big fight for the allocation of the 12 places in the final squad. The preparation will certainly be intense.
Victor Wembanyama, who is coming off a first NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs which earned him the title of ‘Rookie of the Year’, and Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert, recently crowned best defender in the league for the fourth time. American League, are sure to be there. Their combination in the paint, particularly on defense, is enough to impress any team in the world.
But Vincent Collet will have very difficult choices to make when putting together his final squad. One thing is clear from this list: With seven point guards pre-selected for training camp, he doesn’t yet know who he will hand over to with distribution responsibilities.
Even the legendary Nando de Colo (37 years old), probably the best Frenchman at the Tokyo Olympics, is not guaranteed to have his place this summer. As a reminder, the Blues then beat the USA in the opening (83-76) but then lost against them in the final (82-87).
“We initially had a list of 16 players, but certain uncertainties prompted us to expand it a little,” Vincent Collet said at a press conference on Thursday. “We felt it was better to have more options at the outfield positions.
This mainly concerns distribution, but not only. It’s about the rears in general. We want to prioritize defensive intensity. So we chose strong players in this area. »
Looking back on last year’s disappointing FIBA World Cup 2023, the France coach expressed his regret at not selecting Andrew Albicy. Considered a hero during the Qualifiers, the leader brings with him a big dose of leadership, stifling defensive pressure and remarkable altruism – values which were cruelly lacking in the French team present in Asia last summer.
Other leaders shortlisted among the 19 are Killian Hayes, Nadir Hifi, Theo Maledon, Frank Ntilikina and Matthew Strazel.
Nicolas Batum will have a chance to become a four-time Olympian after 2012, 2016 and 2020, but to do so he will also have to earn his place during preparation. He showed himself to his advantage during the play-offs recently played with the Philadelphia Sixers. Another player has done well this season: the 2.06 m interior Mathias Lessort has indeed had a good season with the Greek club Panathinaikos.
Bilal Coulibaly has also just had a solid first NBA season with the Washington Wizards and he can absolutely claim a place with the Blues. He will celebrate his 20th birthday on the eve of the start of the Olympics.
The 19 French people preselected for the Paris 2024 Olympic Tournament
Andrew Albicy
Nicolas Batum
Isaïa Cordinier
Bilal Coulibaly
Nando de Colo
Ousmane Dieng
Evan Fournier
Rudy Gobert
Killian Hayes
Nadir Hifi
Jaylen Hoard
Mathias Lessort
Théo Maledon
Frank Ntilikina
Elie Okobo
Vincent Poirier
Matthew Strazel
Victor Wembanyama
Guerschon Yabusele
Collet has always placed a lot of value on experience and commitment to the national team, but we must recognize that with the talent present, certain neophytes or others with few selections will certainly make the task more complicated technician.
This summer, France will share Group B with Germany, Japan and the winner of the TQO in Riga (Latvia).
FIBA
2024-05-18 02:18:25
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