We are recalling all foreign players that have ever played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project. Today we’re going to talk about basketball in France.
Population: 67 mln
Players in the history of League: 10.
Full list of players: Andrew Albicy, Nobel Boungou-colo, Leo Westermann, Alexandre Gavrilovic, Nando De Colo, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, Mickael Gelabale, Joffrey Lauvergne, Ali Traore, Moustapha Fall.
There were 10 French players in the history of VTB United League.
The most famous player is Nando de Colo, he is a 5-time VTB League champion, 3-time regular season MVP and play-offs MVP. Besides, the Frenchman is a 2-time VTB League All-Star. Ex-CSKA guard is 3rd in all-time scorers list of the League – 2296 career points.
Apart from De Colo, Leo Westermann is a VTB League champion as well. Joffrey Lauvergne and Nobel Boungou-colo have silver medals of the championship, they have played for Khimki.
Futhermore, center Mouhammadou Jaiteh should be noted too, in 2019/20 season he has been Avtodor’s leader in efficiency (19,6) and rebounds (9,9).
Basketball in France
League: LNB Pro A
Founded: in 1921
Number of teams: 18
League’s web-site: https://www.lnb.fr/
French championship is one of the oldest in the world, next year it will be 100 years old. Throughout the history of the championship 31 different clubs won the title at least once. The most titled team is Asvel (19 wins), Limoges (11 wins) and Pau-Orthez (9 titles).
7 of 18 teams participated in European competitions last season: Asvel in Euroleague; Monaco, Limoges and Nanterre 92 in EuroCup and Dijon, Pau-Orthez and Strasbourg in Champions League.
The biggest achievement of French clubs is Limoges win in Euroleague in 1992/93 season. Moreover, Nanterre 92 won FIBA Europe Cup in 2016/17.
French regular season is held in 2 rounds, after that 8 strongest teams participate in play-offs. Quarter-finals are played till 2 wins, semi-finals and finals till 3 wins. Each team has to play at the Arena with minimum capacity of 3000 spectators during the season.
In the middle of the season LNB All-Star Game is held, where French Stars team plays against World Stars team. There are few former VTB League players among All-Star MVPs: Nando De Colo (2007), Davon Jefferson (2010), Nobel Boungou-Colo (2013), Andrew Albicy (2015) and John Roberson (2016).
Furthermore, after LNB Pro A season regular season MVP, Finals MVP, Rookie of the year, The Top scorer, Sixth man, Defensive player of the year, Most improved player and Coach of the year awards are given.
Nando De Colo (ex-CSKA), Ali Traore (ex-Loko), Mickael Gelabale (ex-Khimki), Devin Booker (Khimki) and D.J. Cooper (ex-Enisey) have become regular season MVPs. Finals MVP award owners are Mickael Gelabale (ex-Khimki) and Romeo Travis (ex-Krasny Oktyabr); Andrew Albicy (ex-Zenit) was the Rookie of the year; the Sixth man of the year award was given to Jamar Smith (UNICS), D.J. Stephens (ex-Zenit) and Ali Traore (ex-Loko); DPOY awards were given to Andrew Albicy (ex-Zenit) and Moustapha Fall (ex-Loko), and MIP award was won by Nando De Colo (ex-CSKA).
Michael Ray Richardson (4-time NBA All-Star), Bruce Bowen (3-time NBA champion) and Udonis Haslem (3-time NBA champion).
Interesting fact
In 1997 in Paris McDonald’s Championship was held, 4 European teams participated in it (Barcelona, PSG Racing, Olympiacos, Benetton Treviso), 1 South American team (Atenas) and legendary Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan.
Chicago won the title outplaying PSG Racing (89:82) in the semi-final and Olympiacos (104:78) in Final. The McDonald’s Championship MVP was Michael Jordan. In the Final he became the top scorer with 27 points.
French National team
FIBA rank: 6
FIBA members: since 1933
Achievements: Eurobasket champions (2013), 2-time Olympic Games silver medalists (1948, 2000), 2-time Eurobasket silver medalists (1949, 2011), 2-time World Cup bronze medalists (2014, 2019), 6-time Eurobasket bronze medalists (1937, 1951, 1953, 1959, 2005, 2015).
France became the member of the FIBA in 1933 and since then have missed only 2 Eurobaskets in 1969 and 1975. Throughout the history of the tournament France hosted Eurobasket (1951, 1983, 1999, 2015) 4 times.
Since 1948 till 1953 France had managed to win 4 medals on the international competitions – Olympic silver, Eurobasket silver and 2 Eurobasket bronze medals. Since 1959 till 2000 French basketball players couldn’t win any medals in the competitions.
In 2000 French National team sensationally won Olympics’ silver medals. The team took 4th place in the group win 2-3 record, after that they beat Canada (68:63) and Australia (76:52) in play-offs. In the decisive game France lost to USA – 75:85.
In the past decade France has 3 Eurobasket medals and 2 World Cup medals. The biggest achievement is Eurobasket gold in 2013. Back then, on their path to the title they beat Slovenia (72:62), Spain (75:72 OT) and Lithuania (80:66). Eurobasket’s MVP was given to Tony Parker, for the first time to French player.
Nowadays France is ranked 6th in FIBA ranking, 3rd among European teams.
The most famous French players in the history.
Tony Parker. 4-time NBA champion, NBA Finals MVP, Eurobasket MVP and champion, 6-time NBA All-Star. He is the top scorer in the NBA among French players and second all-time scorer in the history of the Eurobasket. His San-Antonio jersey is retired.
Alain Gilles. 8-time France champion, 2-time French Cup winner, 3-time LNB best French player. in 1991 he was included in FIBA Top-50 greatest players, in 2004 he entered French basketball Hall of Fame. He is recognised as the best French player of the 20th century.
Jean-Paul Beugnot. 8-time France champion. 2-time French Cup winner, the top scorer of the season in the French championship. In 1991 he was included in FIBA Top-50 greatest players, in 2004 entered French basketball Hall of Fame.
Boris Diaw. NBA champion, Eurobasket champion, 2-time France champion, 2-time French Cup owner, Eurobasket silver medalist and World Cup bronze medalist. Among individual awards Diaw has LNB best French player and NBA MIP award.
Richard Dacoury. Euroleague champion, the most titled player in the history of French championship (9 wins), 7-time French Cup owner and and 9-time LNB DPOY. In 2005 he entered French basketball Hall of Fame.
Worth mentioning: Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Joakim Noah.
Dmitriy Kolinov
