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Victor Wembanyama is back with the French national team for the first time since the 2024 Paris Olympics, and the San Antonio Spurs superstar has made clear just how much representing his country means to him. Speaking to L'Equipe's Sami Sadik ahead of France's 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying games, Wembanyama explained why wearing the national team jersey carries even greater significance for him than representing the Spurs in the NBA. "It means more because you wear it for much shorter periods of time," Wembanyama said. "The intensity of an Olympic Games, for example, is something that happens over a matter of weeks, so everything is decided in the moment."
Victor Wembanyama views the current window as an opportunity to begin building toward the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games under head coach Frederic Fauthoux. “I wouldn’t go as far as calling it crucial, but it is a very important window,” Wembanyama told L’Equipe. “For me, as for many others, it is an opportunity to get to know the coaching staff and new teammates, and to lay the foundations. We could manage the next few summers without it, but it is better to start now.”
Despite returning to a team that has changed since Paris 2024, Wembanyama has found the reintegration process straightforward. “It wasn’t difficult at all,” he said. “In a way, we are almost all new, and Freddy is relatively new as well. Evan has just returned, too. When you look at the group, I have played with or against almost everyone, apart from maybe one or two players.” The road to the World Cup in Qatar intensifies with two preparation exhibitions against Nikola Jokic and a formidable Serbian squad, first in Belgrade and then back in Orleans.
Andres Nocioni: The one I respect the most, the one who always treated me very well, and whom I always have a special affection for, is Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant made gestures that no one would miss. He was incredibly kind to me. I don't know, coming to say hello, speaking in Spanish, when we were in Beijing in 2008 Olympics and he suddenly covered my eyes and said hello… All of that made me create a top idol who for me was Kobe Bryant.
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Kevin Love on winning 2012 Olympics: I just got to spend the time with Kobe Bryant, like sipping champagne. But I look at that and I look at this photo and I think, naturally, I think most guys would gravitate towards Kobe in the middle. So those those pictures are extremely special in that relationship forged with him. That was as you can imagine one of the best moments of my life there.
Vince Carter: That was an angry summer, at the Olympics. I tend to dunk the basketball hard as you know, but like I was trying to pull screws loose every time and a little testier than normal, like we back and forth. I got into it with Shane Heal, he played for Australia. Like he was just back and forth who had just gotten into it the Olympics before with Charles Barkley.
France has been officially announced as the host nation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2031, marking a major milestone for international basketball and reinforcing the country’s growing reputation as a global hub for major sporting events. The tournament will be staged across three iconic cities—Paris, Lille, and Lyon—bringing world-class basketball action to some of France’s most vibrant urban centers. The decision highlights France’s proven ability to organize large-scale international competitions, following the success of recent high-profile events such as the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games. With state-of-the-art arenas, efficient transport networks, and a passionate sports culture, the country is well-positioned to deliver a memorable tournament for players, fans, and stakeholders alike.
Reflecting on his transition from the NBA, where he spent 12 seasons between 2012 and 2024, Fournier repeated that he nearly walked away following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After the bottom end of his NBA journey and remaining options didn’t meet his expectations, he questioned the road ahead. “When I saw that my only NBA opportunity was a flop, I asked myself if I really wanted to start all over again at this stage of my career,” he admitted. However, the itch to play returned after just two weeks of rest, leading him to ‘one last adventure in Greece’.
Interviewer: “I just wanted to come back a little to the French national team. How do you see this new generation and the upcoming milestones? There’s a World Cup, and then there are also the Olympic Games in L.A., which will be very interesting given the potential in this French team. Do you already see yourself there?” Rudy Gobert: “I’ve always dreamed of winning an Olympic gold medal. So that’s clearly an objective.” Interviewer: “That’s going to make a lot of people happy, you know.” Rudy Gobert: “We have a lot of talent, and we have what it takes to shock the world.” Interviewer: “And to get a little revenge for what the Americans did to you at home in Paris—is that something you have in mind or not?” Rudy Gobert: “Listen, I think nothing happens by chance, and it was very painful, whether in Tokyo or in Paris. So things should get set right, the tables should turn sooner or later, and I hope it will be in Los Angeles.”
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Carmelo Anthony on losing to Puerto Rico in 2004 Olympics: I wasn't pissed off because I wanted to play. I knew what I was up against. But I also was a little bit tight because we were killing on the exhibition Dwyane Wade: The young guns. Anthony: We were hooping. So when we get to the Olympics, in my mind, I'm like, ‘Oh, this is our role on the team’- Bring it back up. If we up, keep it up. That was my mentality. And then it's like we get to match up with Puerto Rico. So like, damn, like I'm about to play. That's the team I'm about to play with. Yo, we got to get them. Like I got to play today. (…) I got to I have to play in this game. And then you don't play. And then at the end you get caught as a 19, 20 year old. ‘Oh, what do you think about the Puerto Rico? Shout out to Puerto Rico.’ Yeah. You let your emotions out right away. Shout out to Puerto Rico. Like I'm not about to say nothing bad about Puerto Rico. Shout out to Puerto Rico. Hell, that was a great game about Puerto Rico. Don't ask me. Wade: You wasn't in there. Anthony: I wasn't in there. Don't ask me. But I wasn't saying it like disrespectful. I was just saying it like a teenager would say it. I don't know, man. Go,like I ain't playing. Go ask him. Wade: It's the image. It's the no shirt on. Did you have the backwards head on? Anthony: It was crazy, man. It was the image that they put out. The image that they put out there on the sideline. I know that image. I have that image in my crib just on the sideline. I'm just I look at it every time. That's where this sh*t started.
Then there are those with the dream of becoming part of Team USA. Ja Morant, who has surfaced as a potential Heat trade target, has been linked with such interest. With the L.A. Games two years away, others figure to try to bend Erik Spoelstra’s ear, catch his eye. “There’s still time, so I haven’t really sensed anybody lobbying,” Spoelstra said. “I haven’t talked to any potential guys yet.”
Along the way, when asked this season of his eventual Olympic job, Spoelstra had made clear that USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill and Team Director Sean Ford are keeping him up to speed, while also respectful of his day job. “Right now, there’s not a whole lot of action going on,” Spoelstra said. “I’ve kept in touch with both Grant Hill and Sean Ford, and we met up probably two months ago. But it was more general talks of two summers from now and scheduling, and what that’ll look like. We’ll probably get together in some fashion this summer for a little bit more extended time. I don’t know if we’ll do anything with players, but certainly we’ll meet. “I love the whole process, so of course when we play and compete against teams, there’s players that will come to mind. But I’m not sweating that right now. That’s really for Grant. It’ll be a collaborative effort. But there’s plenty of time for that.”
“It’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever played in,” James said while reflecting on his relationship with Jokic. “I’ve played in a lot of great games. NBA Finals games. Olympic games. High school games. Regular season games. That ranks right up there as one of the greatest games I’ve ever played in. I’ll never forget that moment.”