Wembanyama Out: France EuroBasket Campaign

Silver medalist with the Blues during the last Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and member of the new golden generation of tricolor sport, the French basketball player Victor Wembanyama, 21, knows the first hard blow of his young career.

Except improbable turnaround, the French interior of 2.24 m from the San Antonio Spurs will be forfeited for the next European championship, which will be held from August 27 to September 14 in Cyprus, Finland, Poland and Latvia.

Victim of a “Deep venous thrombosis at the right shoulder” -A blood clot preventing blood circulation-mid-February, the new figurehead of the NBA will therefore have to wait until the end of October and the resumption of the North American basketball league season before playing an official match.

Several sources have explained to Libération that the Spurs, although historically favorable to let their players go in the selection, want to take “No risk” – both sporty and economic – with their French superstar.

His injury, which he presented last April as “A little counter time” In his career, and his package left the orphaned Blues of their leader, at the dawn of a new cycle with the neo-selector, Frédéric Faux.

The French basketball federation (FFBB) and the technical staff have “Long hoped” That Victor Wembanyama finally holds his rank, it is explained in his entourage. The announcement of pre-selection, initially scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, was offset last weekend, on Friday, June 27. The reason? “Allow the technical staff to have medical confirmations on the availability of certain players”affirms the federal body to Libérationrefusing to any additional comments.

Because France, in search of a second European crown since its coronation in 2013, should also do without several of its executives. Lately, the Parisian et The team have respectively announced that the interior of the Minnessota Timberwolevs, Rudy Gobert, and that the back of Olympiakos, Evan Fournier, are also likely to miss the call.

Back in the Paris region after a ten -day spiritual retreat in a Shaolin temple in China, Victor Wembanyama is in the times of passing to be in full possession of his capacities in early October, for the resumption of spurs training. In the meantime, the French prodigy should continue the round trips between France and the United States to continue its rehabilitation.

Elected Rookie (beginner) of the year last year and promised as best defender, “Wemby” left on very high foundations during his first 46 games of the season, before his injury. In Texas, San Antonio supporters hope that their return to the game will allow their team to finally reconnect with the final stages – the Playoffs – of NBA, after six years of scarcity. The weight of expectations is already heavy on the young shoulders of Wemby.