Tillie Family Mix-Up: French Basketball federation Confuses NBA Prospect with Olympic Volleyball Champ

In a story that’s sure to bring a smile to sports fans across the globe, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) recently found itself in a bit of a pickle, mistaking a rising basketball talent for a decorated Olympian. When 27-year-old strong winger/pivot Kilian Tillie received his first call-up to the French national basketball team, the official correspondence had a familiar name, but the wrong sport.

The hilarious blunder was brought to light by the siblings’ mother, Caroline Keulen-Tillie, a former Dutch volleyball star herself. She took to her Facebook account to share an excerpt from the letter addressed to her son. The document, intended for Kilian, was mistakenly sent to his older brother, Kévin Tillie, a two-time Olympic volleyball champion with the French national team.

The letter, dated for the November 2025 international window, stated: Dear Kévin, as part of the qualifying campaign for the 2027 World Cup, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to participate in the gathering of the French Men’s Team. One can only imagine the double-take Kévin must have done, perhaps wondering if his basketball skills had suddenly caught up to his volleyball prowess!

A Legacy Forged in Sports: The Tillie Family’s Athletic Prowess

This mix-up, while comical, underscores the deep athletic roots of the Tillie family. laurent tillie, the patriarch and former coach of the French men’s volleyball team (2012-2021