Four new French players in the NBA!
Summary
A wave of French touch is blowing over the NBA! During the 77th annual draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA), not 1 but 4 French players were called to join prestigious American teams.
June 22, 2023, will remain in the memories of all French basketball fans. A historic day as good as one could dream of! Unsurprisingly but with much emotion, it was the Frenchman Victor Wembanyama who was called first during the annual draft held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. A major event that allows fresh blood to join the teams. The draft offers teams the opportunity to recruit the best basketball talents, whether they are college players, international players, or players eligible for the draft after one or more years of professional experience. A great opportunity for our young French players who have managed to secure a prime spot in the most prestigious basketball league in the world, which includes teams in the US but also in Canada. Indeed, the NBA is renowned for having featured the greatest basketball players of all time, such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Shaquille O'Neal. Iconic players who have greatly contributed to popularizing the sport worldwide. And now it’s “Wemby”’s turn to take over.
Victor Wembanyama: all eyes on him
If the 19-year-old prodigy was expected, the great emotion of the evening was that the Frenchman was called first on stage by the league commissioner, Adam Silver. A first for a French player who thus enters the history of the sport. Trained by Nanterre, he comes off a strong season with Boulogne-Levallois where he was able to showcase much of his potential. He actually swept all the titles during his time there, being crowned best player (MVP), best prospect, best defender, top scorer, best rebounder, best shot blocker, MVP of the All Star Game! He now joins a league and a club better suited for him: the San Antonio Spurs in Texas, who had already seen a French star before him, Tony Parker! Needless to say, that night all eyes were on the French international who is considered the biggest basketball potential worldwide since LeBron James! That’s huge! This unique talent, comparable to no other basketball player, combines many qualities. A mix of “Gobert on defense, Porzingis on offense, with passing skills like Jokic” according to some experts. Enough to boost the confidence of this player with astonishing proportions: the young man measures 2.21 meters, weighs about 110 kilos, but also has very long arms giving him an impressive wingspan of 2.43 meters! He was made for this game!
San Antonio Spurs: a legendary team
Victor Wembanyama thus joins the great Spurs family, a team that does not hide its love for talents from abroad and especially from France! This legendary team is a true basketball institution for several decades. It boasts not only 5 championship titles but also 8 consecutive seasons with over 50 wins (between 1999 and 2017) and 22 straight playoff appearances (between 1997 and 2019). A reputation owed notably to its coach, Gregg Popovich. Who better qualified to guide the young French prodigy during his first steps on American courts than this 75-year-old man?
NBA: the French connection
Victor Wembanyama was not the only Frenchman to shine that night. Indeed, his former teammate at Metropolitans 92, Bilal Coulibaly, was chosen at number 7! Unlike Wemby, no one saw Bilal coming, who created a general surprise by being selected in the Top 10! On Thursday, he became the second highest selected French talent in history, tied with Kylian Hayes who was drafted in 2020 by the Detroit Pistons. A selection that made his former teammate jump for joy, who could not hide his emotion upon hearing the news. Initially picked by the Indiana Pacers, Bilal Coulibaly was immediately traded to Washington in exchange for the American Jarace Walker, who was chosen 8th. A triumph for this young basketball prospect who intends to make his name shine in the league. “I want to be a good player on both ends of the court. I want to stay in DC, give everything for the fans and the city. How do I see myself evolving? Physically, I need to gain weight. I will grow, I know that. I work hard to be as complete a player as possible!” assured the young man in perfect English. Very confident in his talent, his new club sees the wing player as a key piece of their game. It must be said that the Saint-Cloud native is a true Swiss army knife, capable of covering several positions. A highly sought-after quality in the NBA and by his club, which will undoubtedly do everything to unleash his potential.
Victor Wembanyama
Rayan Rupert
Bilal Coulibaly
Sidy Cissoko
Among the other surprises of the evening, two other French players were selected during the second round of the 2023 draft. Rayan Rupert joins Portland (43rd pick) and Sidy Cissoko (44th pick) joins Victor Wembanyama at the Spurs. The year 2023 is therefore a very good vintage for our French players whom we look forward to seeing on NBA courts.
Draft 2023: streetwear outfits on displayThe draft is also an opportunity for players to showcase their best outfits. Highly anticipated, the players’ outfits also announce the trends for the upcoming season. The young recruits do not hesitate to show off with stylish and original clothes that excite fashion lovers looking for new inspirations. Victor Wembanyama obviously played the game by wearing a double-breasted dark green suit. “Green is my favorite color. And it’s a bit like exoplanet, alien, space. The shape of the suit is original too!” emphasized the prodigy to whom everything seems to succeed!
