France unveils Paris 2024 Men’s Basketball roster
To strengthen their defense, France Men’s Basketball team head coach Vincent Collet has revealed the 12 men to go and get gold on home soil in arguably the most competitive Olympics of all time.
Bannered by NBA Rookie of the Year and phenom Victor Wembanyama and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, Collet has emphasized defense as the team’s main identity coming into the Games.
France notably disappointed last year in their FIBA World Cup campaign after not even getting out of the initial group stages. Despite being one of the favorites to win it all, France was booted out early in the competition after losing to the likes of Canada and Latvia.
This time, Les Bleus brings in a solid 12-man lineup that aims to be on top of the world’s basketball stage.
🚨 SÉLECTION OFFICIELLE POUR PARIS 2024
— Equipe France (@EquipeFRA) July 8, 2024
Découvrez nos basketteurs en 5x5 et en 3x3 qui participeront aux Jeux Olympiques de Paris 2024 🏀 pic.twitter.com/e7q6WcsySP
Joining Wembanyama and Gobert are French national team veterans Nicolas Batum, Nando De Colo, Frank Ntilikina, Guerschon Yabusele, and Isaia Cordinier.
As he looks to build the team of defense and share the ball, Collet has tapped young guards Andrew Albicy and Matthew Strazel. Collet also added one of the best Euroleague players this season in Matthias Lessort and Wembanyama’s former teammate and the 7th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Bilal Coulibaly.
France’s early adversaries in the Games are Germany, Japan, and Brazil in Group B.