The French contingent is down this year in the NBA, with only nine players on the starting line. Above all, far from Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum and Rudy Gobert, well established in the league for several years, young talents are struggling to show themselves when they have been drafted high enough. Killian Hayes for example, or Frank Ntilikina and Théo Maledon.
This inability of the young blue-white-red generation to impose itself in the NBA unlike its elders raises questions. Especially the old ones, Tony Parker in mind, which draws a severe conclusion on the subject.
“The Draft no longer means anything today”advances the MVP of the Finals 2007 for The team newspaper. “We select young people on their potential, but the potential may or may not be realized behind. Before, you did two or three years at university in the United States, or you played at the best level in France before presenting yourself in the Draft. »
For the former Spurs playmaker, there is no doubt: the French are now leaving too quickly for the big league.
“Yes, and that’s a shame because you can’t force them to stay in France or in Europe. I get it, there’s a lot of money to be made in the United States. But the Americans are very strict on recruitment. Out of 400 active NBA players, you have 60 new ones arriving every year, so you only have one chance to make a good impression. Better to arrive prepared. You have to resist the sirens of money, know how to be lucid and leave at the right time, after having accumulated experience. »
“Before, you didn’t even dare to think of registering for the Draft if you weren’t dominating in the First Division. Today, it’s just if everyone does not put his name “
An analysis which is shared by Nicolas Batum, since the Clippers winger had also mentioned and regretted this trend in sports newspaper columns last week, before the start of the regular season.
“They are not put in the best conditions”, believes the former Portland and Charlotte. “It’s not just their fault, the system is like that. We put them very high, too early. I see kids of 15 years old who are told – or who are told – that they are ready when they haven’t set foot in pro, I hear that some are the “new Tony Parkers”, etc. . I want to answer: already try to dominate in National 1, to dominate pro training before even thinking about NBA. I’m not questioning that they work, but there are steps. »
“Batman” crossed the levels before dreaming, like Tony Parker, Rudy Gobert or Evan Fournier, of the NBA.
“But the real difference is that when we arrived in the United States, even if there were questions about our ability to succeed in the United States, we had nothing left to prove in France. We had struggled to impose ourselves, gain credibility and respect, and we were ready for what awaited us. Vincent Collet gave me the keys to a Euroleague team at 18, Tony dominated with PSG, Boris and the Pietrus brothers were champions and major elements in Pau, Rudy was the best defender in the elite. If Evan had stayed one more year, he would have ended up with more than 20 points per game… Before, you didn’t even dare to think about registering for the Draft if you weren’t dominating in the First Division. Today, it’s just if everyone does not put his name. »
“A reform of the training is necessary”
Like his former teammate in the France team, and based on his own experience, Batum therefore preaches for patience despite the financial sirens and the power of the NBA.
“We have crazy talent, a phenomenal pool, talent, coaches, structures, a past, everything to get there. We must protect them. Training reform is needed, rules are needed to respond to the new ways – Australia, G-League, Overtime. The financial argument is hard to counter and I understand that in certain contexts families cannot say no. But others have a choice. […] At 17, in 2005, I turned pro. I was then offered tempting sums, I could have gone to many places. My entourage tells me to stay in Le Mans, in my cocoon, with my trainee contract. They also tell me: the money, you will earn it later. If you are good, smart, it will come. »
Is not Victor Wembanyama, who wants.
| Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 1 | Rudy Gobert | MIN | 3 | 32.3 | 61.8 | 0.0 | 45.5 | 6.3 | 11.7 | 18.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 15.7 |
| 2 | Evan Fournier | NYK | 3 | 26.6 | 33.3 | 36.8 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 10.0 |
| 3 | Nicholas Batum | LAKE | 3 | 17.5 | 66.7 | 66.7 | 50.0 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.7 |
| 4 | Killian Hayes | TED | 3 | 17.1 | 16.7 | 11.1 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 |
| 5 | Theo Maledon | CHA | 2 | 9.4 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 80.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| 6 | Ousmane Dieng | OKAY | 3 | 13.2 | 18.2 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.7 |
