Victor Wembanyama plays against the NBA's top talent with the San Antonio Spurs and is excited to represent France at the Paris Olympics. He believes France will be ready for a potential showdown with Team USA at the Men’s 5×5.
The U.S. defeated France 87-82 in the final at the Tokyo Games three years ago. “I can't wait to face them; it will be a very interesting matchup,” Wembanyama said at a news conference in Paris via Associated Press.
“As a basketball player, it’s also a dream to play against Team USA and even against all those players, all those legends,” the NBA Rookie of the Year continued.
The French National Team didn’t have Wembanyama then, but this time the 20-year-old is making his Olympic debut being the French team's biggest star and is drawing significant attention both on and off the court.
France, yet to win an Olympic gold medal in basketball, will hold its initial full practice on Friday in Paris. They are set to play six warmup games in July.
Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert giving France much needed rim protection
Vincent Collet, France’s head coach, finds it comforting to have both Wembanyama and fellow NBA star Rudy Gobert, a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, disrupting opposing offenses. Collet emphasized the importance of exceptional defense in achieving their goals. Assisting him is newly appointed Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson.
France's first opponent is yet to be determined—it will be the winner of the upcoming last qualifying tournament next week. Following this, the host nation will face Japan and the reigning world champion Germany in Group B.
The host nation and Team USA are in separate pools at the beginning of the Olympics.
The players won't attend the Olympics' opening ceremony on July 26 because France's first game is scheduled for the following day in Lille, 136 miles (220 kilometers) north of Paris, where the group stage for the 12-team tournament will be held.
With the advantage of playing in front of their home fans, France is seen as one of the top teams, alongside contenders like the U.S., Canada, Serbia, and Germany.
The future is bright for French basketball
France showcased its emerging basketball talent on Wednesday evening. Zaccharie Risacher was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Hawks, with Alexandre Sarr going second to the Washington Wizards. Tidjane Salaun was the sixth pick for the Hornets, and Pacome Dadiet was selected 25th by the Knicks.
Unsurprisingly, the Spurs star Wembanyama was among the first to celebrate as he witnessed several of his fellow Frenchmen being drafted in the first round of the NBA draft on Wednesday night.
Wembanyama made his commitment to the Olympics before joining the NBA, and the French team does not include Risacher, Sarr, or other 2024 rookies. However, his teammates include several NBA peers, including 20-year-old Bilal Coulibaly from the Wizards, who is younger than Wembanyama, and 35-year-old Nicolas Batum from the 76ers, the oldest player on the France roster.
Les Bleus ended the United States' 58-game FIBA winning streak by defeating them 89-79 in the World Cup quarterfinals in 2019. Rudy Gobert led with 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Evan Fournier contributed 22 points.
Team USA looking to bounce back
In 2023, after the United States' defeat to Canada in the FIBA World Cup, LeBron James stated that he was discussing participation in the 2024 Olympics with various players.
Team USA's Managing Director Grant Hill and head coach Steve Kerr have likened this year's Olympic roster to the illustrious Dream Team, highlighting its exceptional talent including Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing.
“I believe it’s the biggest competition for an athlete. But I’m going to approach it like everything else in my life: a sporting pleasure,” Victor Wembanyama said in the same press conference.
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