Appointed less than a month ago, Frédéric Fauthoux has become France coach. This October 17, it is with the blue polo decorated with the tricolor flag and in a video from Bourg-en-Bresse that the new boss of the Blues appears. He is next to Boris Diaw, general director of the French basketball team.
Former partners in Pau in the early 2000s, the two men are close friends. In 2017 Boris Diaw, after 15 years in the NBA, returned for one last dance in France under the colors of Levallois, whose coach was Fauthoux. Two years later he became president of the club still coached by his friend. Vincent Collet’s successor is here to announce his first list for two matches valid for the Euro 2025 qualifiers. France will play twice against Cyprus on November 21st in Nicosia and on the 24th in Poitiers.
Two games against a very modest opponent for which Fauthoux cannot count on any player from the NBA or even the Euroleague. Wembanyama, Fournier or Hifi therefore do not appear in his first list built by the boys who play in Betclic Elite and, at European level, in the Eurocup. “This first list arrived a month after my appointment. So we had to act quickly. In recent weeks there have been many meetings and discussions to put things right. Without a selectable NBA or Euroleague player, this first list with several young players, without forgetting the number 1 objective which is to win, is also there to prepare for the future” confides the coach.
He called up 12 players for the gathering. Among them there is only one summer Olympic vice-champion: Gran Canaria leader Andrew Albicy (104 appearances) who also inherits the captain’s armband.
“What I expect from Andrew is what he has been bringing for many years already. He is someone who is always there with the desire to help and do well,” reports the new coach. The Thomas Heurtel case, which is developing in China, did not enter the discussion. After his stay in Russia from 2022 to 2024, only the Federal Council can revoke the sanction that prohibits him from wearing the blue shirt again. His exile in China, 12 hours away by plane, also makes his availability for such a short internship impossible.
With veteran Paul Lacombe accustomed to international windows, the new coach named Brice Dessert (Strasbourg), Noa Essengue (Ulm/Germany), Jean-Marc Pansa (Bourg-en-Bresse) and Adam Mokoka (Cluj-Napoca/Romania).
It will be him, for the occasion and certainly for a long time, who will hand over the keys to the game also and above all to an eighteen year old, Nolan Traoré (Saint-Quentin). After accompanying the Olympic selection in training, the one who will be announced in the Top 5 of the future NBA draft will honor his first selection. “He was very good with the French team this summer, he played with Saint-Quentin, his presence was evident,” explained Fauthoux.
The players called up.
Leaders: Andrew Albicy, Hugo Benitez, Nolan Traoré; Defenders: Paul Lacombe, Nicolas Lang, Adam Mokoka; Wings: Axel Bouteille, Noa Essengue; Interior: Brice Dessert, Yoan Makoundou, Amine Noua, Jean-Marc Pansa.
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