Decryption – More or less in cold with Vincent Collet, less free in any case, the 27 -year -old rear is explored under the orders of the new coach, Freddy Faith.
Vincent Collet, a French basketball monument. The man of all records as coach of the French team, with in particular eight unhooked medals, including gold at Euro 2013, in Slovenia, and two silver Olympic charms, in Tokyo in 2021 and last year, Paris. Some players do not necessarily regret the departure of the Norman, replaced by Freddy Faiths last summer. Like Élie Okobo.
Obviously, the 27 -year -old tricolor (48 selections) has never been expressed in these terms. But it is not very hard to read between the lines … Recall that it had been heckled by Coach Collet in a dead time, during the victory over Lebanon (85-79), during the monumental fiasco of the 2023 World Cup. “Does not listen to Elijah, he does not want to play but does not do like himHe had thundered, addressing Sylvain Francisco. Said Okobo had responded in the best way, with 12 points after rest. On the deck at Euro 2022 and therefore at the World Cup, the Monegasque had remained on the side of the road for the Paris Games. Within a rejuvenated team, without Evan Fournier at his post for example, Faith chose to rely on the triple champion of France (2022 to 2024).
Pass advertising
After the Israeli stop, does it start?
At the end of the bench, the former Bordeaux player, Pau, Phoenix in the NBA and the Asvel represents one of the tricolor satisfaction at the start of the euro. 13 points against Belgium (victory 92-64), 14 against Slovenia (victory 105-93) and 12 against Israel (defeat 69-82), including 10 in less than a minute straddling the third and fourth quarter. A hot stroke that allowed the Tricolores to hope, before … the stampede. “”We will have to recover and be ready for the next game“, He rained on Sunday, in Katowice, before a”finaleAgainst Poland, this Tuesday (8:30 p.m., TMC et beIN SPORTS). We will show a better faceHe still promised.
Read too
Eurobasket: Brutal Back to Earth for the Blues
One thing is certain: Okobo will show his real face. It was also his leitmotif at the start of the internship, at the end of July last, on the side of the INSEP. “”Make Elijah. Being myself, not trying to do like previous years trying to adapt a little too much to requests. It didn’t correspond to me at all, so it’s a little more complicated“, He slipped, aimed at”Bring something good, efficiency, creation, scoring, energy». Of the «serenity“Also, relying on his”experience».
And it is true that in this very rejuvenated group, Okobo is one of the elders … “”It is important to put everyone at ease in the field, outside. Really communicate, ask questions, give advice and be vocal. Communication is very important for alchemy in the group and on the game. I try to do as much as possible. Leader? I feel like I am vocal and communicate with everyone. Afterwards, the weather will be. I focus on being myself, play hard, respect the instructions and communicate a lot so that everything goes well on the field. Just be myself, communicate as I do with MonacoHe said, he who had scored points at the February window and the winner’s basket against Bosnia (76-74).
There is a lot of frustration, but I can’t dwell on it.
Élie Okobo
In any case, Faux and Okobo were not discovered on this occasion, they who had already rubbed shoulders with ASVEL. “”I already know him before, so I think he has a little more confidence already (than Vincent Collet, editor’s note). Afterwards, it is up to me to respond, to be effective, to defend above all, and to be able to alternate the game on situations of Pick-And-Roll, insulation, and to createHe slipped. And to add, to its first difficult campaigns in blue: “Yes, there is a lot of frustration, but I cannot dwell on it. You have to move forward. A career is long. The deadlines, there are plenty. They must be confronted them in the best way and try to get positive from them».
Read too
Eurobasket: “We will have to recover,” insists Élie Okobo after Israel-France
Winner
A philosophy that Bordeaux also applied to his club career, he who did not hesitate to return to Europe after a failure in the NBA. “”When I signed at Asvel (in 2021), at the very beginning, I was frustrated to tell myself that I found the Betclic Elite three years after my draft (31st choice in 2018, editor’s note). But it was an evil for a good. There was the Euroligue, the opportunity to compete in the second best league in the world. The door is never closed. When you taste the NBA, you want to go back. I don’t take the lead. I work on my game. I try to win titles in Europe, to be stronger every year“, He said, noting that”The NBA is the best league in the world. There, I am in the second. If I can be in the first, it’s cool». Chick?
Pass advertising
And to continue, about this comeback in Europe, like Théo Malédon and Jaylen Hoard, when others continue to wave the bench in the NBA, even in G-League: “Afterwards, each their way. I don’t judge anyone. For my part, I was injured at the time of the option team. I couldn’t run. It was the covid. I had to return to France to have my surgery. Afterwards, I signed at ASVEL».
The objective? A medal. I cannot say that my goal is to finish fourth … It would really be zero on my part.
Élie Okobo
In the meantime, he made the heyday of the princely club, defeated in the Euroligue and Betclic Elite final last season. He finally had little time to digest after the series against Paris Basketball before joining the Blues. “”It was very short. There was a month at the battery between the last match and the recovery with the French team. I moved away from the grounds a bit. I went in the middle of nature to recharge my batteries. It did me good“He said, saying to himself”determinedBefore attacking the campaign. It is probably even more now, after the Israeli stop on Sunday. In order to stay in the race for the first place in group D, the Blues must prevail against Poland of his teammate in club, the American naturalized Jordan Loyd, MVP of the Betclic Elite 2023 final.
Read too
Eurobasket: Unrecognizable, the Blues fall from high against Israel
This is an opportunity to show that Sunday’s match was just an accident. Especially for the Blues who want to be ambitious despite the absent (Wemby, Fournier, Gobert…). “”The objective? A medal. I cannot say that my goal is to finish fourth … It would really be zero on my part“Said Okobo at the start of the internship, knowing that there is”Very competitive teams. We will have to take things as you go, develop our collective, our game, to get ready and do damage». Élie Okobo had done it in 2022, contributing to the tune of 10 points during the Blues card against the Polish surprise (95-54), in half of the Eurobasket. Bis repetita?
Related reading
