Evan Fournier speaks frankly about the French national team: “It’s going to be a problem at some point”

Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif

With a new generation of talented players emerging, the French national team faces a turning point in the coming months. Evan Fournier believes that a looming problem will need to be addressed quickly.

Clearly, he’s still got something in the tank. Some were already predicting his retirement nearly a year ago, after months of sitting on the end of the bench with the Knicks and the Pistons, but Evan Fournier has found his mojo again upon returning to Europe. Now a member of Olympiakos, the guard is having a blast with his new team and is even preparing to play in the semifinals of the Euroleague Final Four, against Monaco.

Excellent since the start of the season, especially in Europe’s biggest competition, the veteran took the opportunity to prove he still has a place in the French national team. The team is facing numerous upheavals as the leaders of recent years have gradually been replaced by a generation of younger players. And that’s without mentioning the most recent generation, which is full of talent.

Evan Fournier discusses the future of the French national team

Olympic runners-up in Tokyo and Paris, “Les Bleus” must capitalize on these achievements and build solid foundations, as their future looks bright. But to do so, they must make no mistake, according to Fournier, who addressed the subject after the 2024 Olympics. Interviewed by First Team, he gave his opinion on the way forward:

We’re at a bit of a turning point here for the French national team. Due to the change of coach, of course, but also the generational change. I really think you keep the players we already have, the young veterans, Guerschon, Isaïa, Frank, Mathias… Add to that Wemby, the old veterans, Rudy and me, and there’s a way to be very successful.

The only thing, when I really look at the French horizon, is that there are a lot of young players who are drafted very high. That’s going to be a problem at some point, I think. It will be up to them, really, to find their balance and that’s normal, you’re N°1 in the draft, N°2, N°6, etc. Everyone will have status somewhere, they’ll all want to prove themselves, to all settle down, to cement themselves. That’s the recipe for not winning.

Victor Wembanyama, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Tidjane Salaün, not to mention all those who will be drafted in 2025: the new wave of French basketball players is promising, but be careful to find the right balance between youth and experience. The good news, as Vavane points out, is that the French national team has players who are battle-hardened but who are not past their thirties. It’s up to Freddy Fauthoux to capitalize on that.