Eight NBA players -- Rudy Gobert, Victor Wembanyama, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, Ousmane Dieng, Bilal Coulibaly, Killian Hayes, and Frank Ntilikina -- made the extended French national team roster for the Paris Olympics.
With more than two months remaining until the 2024 Paris Olympics, the French national team has announced its preliminary roster for the tournament, featuring some well-known names from the NBA.
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembaynama headline the roster. Joining them are their NBA peers: Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, Ousmane Dieng, Bilal Coulibaly, Killian Hayes, and Frank Ntilikina.
Out of the 19 players, only Andrew Albicy (Grana Canaria), Nadir Hifi (Paris Basketball), Jaylen Hoard (Hapoel Tel Aviv), and Theo Maledon (Sioux Falls Skyforce, G-League) have not played in either the NBA or the EuroLeague.
"Initially, we had a list of 16 players, but uncertainties led us to have a slightly larger list," French NT coach Vincent Collet said in the press conference. "The list was expanded, with the extension primarily focused on the perimeter positions."
France is set to compete in Group B of the Olympics, facing off against world champions Germany, Japan, and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Latvia, which includes teams like Georgia, Philippines, Latvia, Brazil, Cameroon, and Montenegro.
France will play six friendly games in preparation for the main event.
France's Olympics preparation schedule:
- July 3rd - France vs. Turkey - Kindarena - Rouen, France
- July 6th - Germany vs. France - Lanxess Arena - Cologne, Germany
- July 8th - France vs. Germany - Sud de France Arena - Montpellier, France
- July 12th - France vs. Serbia - LDLC Arena - Lyon-Decines, France
- July 19th - France vs. Canada - Co'Met Arena - Orleans, France
- July 21st - France vs. Australia - Co'Met Arena - Orleans, France
The Olympic Basketball Tournament is scheduled to run from July 27th to August 11th, 2024. The preliminary 5-on-5 basketball games will take place at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, with the final phase set to dazzle audiences at the Accor Arena in Paris.
Full France's 19-man list:
| Player | Team |
| Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Vincent Poirier | Real Madrid |
| Mathias Lessort | Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens |
| Guerschon Yabusele | Real Madrid |
| Nicolas Batum | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Evan Fournier | Detroit Pistons |
| Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs |
| Elie Okobo | AS Monaco |
| Isaia Cordinier | Virtus Segafredo Bologna |
| Nando De Colo | LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne |
| Theo Maledon | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| Frank Ntilikina | Free agent, formerly with Charlotte Hornets |
| Andrew Albicy | Gran Canaria |
| Bilal Coulibaly | Washington Wizards |
| Ousmane Dieng | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Killian Hayes | Free agent, formerly with Detroit Pistons |
| Nadir Hifi | Paris Basketball |
| Jaylen Hoard | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
| Matthew Strazel | AS Monaco |
