Team USA has defeated France in the gold medal game in each of the last two Olympics, but the challenge could be more difficult if they meet again in four years, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Both games have been extremely close, and while the U.S. will likely lose several veteran stars by 2028, French basketball appears to be on the rise.
It starts with Victor Wembanyama, who is already a force at age 20 and could be the best player in the world by the next Olympiad. He led France with 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this year and is already looking ahead to his next Olympics opportunity.
“Nobody knows what’s going to happen, but what’s for sure is we’re growing. Basketball is growing here,” Wembanyama said after Saturday’s game. “Nobody is going to take [this experience] from me. I’m learning and I’m worried for the opponents in a couple years.”
France had the top two selections in this year’s NBA draft, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, neither of whom played in the Olympics. French guard Nolan Traore is projected to go in the 2025 lottery and could be part of a loaded roster in 2028.
Nicolas Batum, who retired from international basketball on Saturday after a long career, believes France is ready to challenge the Americans for Olympic superiority.
“The U.S. is still the best team in the world but we’re getting closer and closer,” he said. “We respect them, but we’re not scared of them. We’ll just go out there and try to beat them.”
There’s more from the Olympics:
- USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill is looking forward to a break after overseeing a fifth straight gold medal, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. The U.S. won’t have another major international tournament until the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, so he’ll have some time to think about assembling the next roster. “Over four years, a lot can and will happen,” Hill said. “Now, getting away from it a little bit, just letting things play out and see how guys continue to develop and see what kind of season guys have over the next year or so. And then, at some point, you start that process all over again.”
- Assistants Tyronn Lue and Erik Spoelstra appear to be the favorites to succeed Steve Kerr as Team USA’s head coach, Reynolds adds in the same piece. Kerr committed to coach in the 2023 World Cup and this year’s Olympics when he took over for Gregg Popovich.
- As the Olympics prepare to wrap up, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today picks winners and losers from the men’s basketball competition. Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Team USA are obvious winners, along with France and Serbia for also capturing medals. Zillgitt’s losers are Canada, Germany, Australia and Spain, which all went home empty-handed despite high expectations, along with Nikola Jokic, whom Zillgitt criticizes for not talking to the media during his brilliant performance.
Both Lue and Spoelstra would be great choices for next team USA coach. Kerr will probably step down and let somebody else manage it since he is getting up there in age.
Zillgitt perfect name for that Worm. Jokic is a man. He doesn’t owe you or anyone in the media a thing. He doesn’t need to self promote his game speaks for itself.
In the Olympics press interviews are optional unlike NBA so Zillgit has nothing to complain about.
Jokic doesnt like basketball and only plays because he’s GOATed at it, but would never willingly do anything that isn’t playing the 48 mins and practicing. Talking to the media? Whats he gunna say? How much he loves horse racing? Leave him be.
What a horrible take. Jokic love bball, he just hates media and to be involved in that circus. Just check him how happier he is when he can just play basketball and not be involved in anything else. Jokic love bbal, but he loves horses more and his family is most important to him. He is not from USA culture, in Europe talking to media aint mamdatory and usually man of the match or coach or captain talks and they involve lesser known players. USA and media are way different then rest of the world. Davey J when ever you write something on this site is semi information and just filled with bad takes
We heard you the first time.
Nothing drives me nuts more than reporters that make it about them
Players love to be praised and talk about themselves incessantly when money is involved but not when it is for the good of the game or not lining their pockets. Jokic is an immature ahole and glad reporter called him out.
This makes no sense because Jokic never does any of that – zero. So what are talking about? Where is it written that because you are a great player you have to do something that you don’t want to do and obviously makes you uncomfortable. I’d say he’s the mature one here – he doesn’t need to hear himself rattle off the inane cliches we hear from most players. Why can’t you all just enjoy watching him play. No one with a brain tunes in to hear what he has to say.
Jokic should be promoting Serbia basketball. He should be promoting the GAME. At one of best venues EVER. The Olympics. I’m sure he has his reasons. Yeah well he’s wrong. The GAME is bigger than any OnE player.
Serbian basketball for 6 decades is well promoted in the world, only in USA it lacks coverage like any other country that is not Canada or Australia. Bogdan is captain of the team and usually in Europe its captain and coach who goes into the media. Different culture, especially for Jokic. He is from area where people hate exposing themselves or talking to media. Just remember early Jokic interviews and what mess he was. So it was not mandatory so he left Captain of the team to do interviews. Bonus thing, would be better for others who are not that well known to give interviews then constantly be only biggest stars. And bad take, game is not bigger than any player. Players are what make this game great. And yet again, do not look how USA goes with media with the rest of the world. Two completely different worlds mate.
Stop talking out your ares dude. This is a TEAM game. Until you get that . You will never understand this game. So stay in your bubble if you must.
You are in self conflict. I never said it is not a team game, just contrary I said that players makes this game. It makes players to make a team. Watching your comments and attitude for long time and when ever someone hit you with reality you become hostile because you do not have adequate respond. You are the one living in bubble. You have subpar knowledge of NBA, and 0 knowledge of basketball outside of the NBA. No wonder people mock you all the time. And please, learn how to speak properly with fellow humans and follow clames with facts.
I think Jokic understands it’s a team game more than anybody
Was wondering about players who didn’t show up. So I looked it up ……. Hmmmm
“So why didn’t Risacher and Sarr get picked?
Several NBA executives told Andscape it’s par for the course that lottery picks don’t play for their national teams during the summer when they get selected in the NBA draft. Memphis Grizzlies rookie center Zach Edey, drafted ninth overall, wasn’t selected to play for the Canadian national team at the Olympics but played for his new team in summer league action. French men’s basketball team coach Vincent Collet explained the omission of Risacher and Sarr from his standpoint to Andscape.”
They are 18 and 19.
What does that mean ???? They are pros at 16 in Euro ball.
They aren’t that skilled enough to make the national team. He’ll Sarr loomed really bad in SL.
I want hill gone