“Everything happens,” laughs Nicolas Batum. Even to see Rudy Gobert return an award-winning shot. And yet it was not won … In recent days, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) had relayed images in which we saw the 31-year-old pivot shoot and score beyond the arc of a circle at the ‘coaching. This time it was for real, in a match. An award-winning shot, at the head of the racket. And he returned it. A first in 91 selections for the France team. In fact, it was Gobert’s first “increased”… in his career, for his 908th professional game, between the French championship, the NBA, the G-League, the Blues or the All Star Game, regular season and playoffs included. “I was waiting for this question (smile). I feel like I’ve lost my virginity tonight,” he laughed after the 80-69 victory for the French basketball team on Wednesday night at the Montpellier Arena.
And to continue, more seriously: “No, it’s something I work on a lot. Every year, my confidence increases with work. And there, my confidence means that I know that I can take them into play. I have to get into the habit of doing it. My teammates and my coach trust me. I will continue to take them”. Despite a few mischievous smiles on the floor, his teammates didn’t bother the Picard giant too much during the game. “No, because they see me putting them in training,” he slips, before adding to understand the surprise of some observers. “Most fans don’t know what’s going on off the pitch. Inevitably, they may be surprised that players are working on things they don’t see. But before doing it on the ground, it is working in training, “he says, he who also split 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks on Wednesday.
“It’s incredible (smile). He has more than me tonight (laughs)”, commented Nicolas Batum, who went into the mixed zone after the person concerned, he who finished at 0/4 beyond the arc of a circle at the arena. “I’m going to retire soon if this continues,” he says ironically. Expected ? No. But I think even Montenegro wasn’t ready for that!” After the jokes, however, the captain of the France team gave his explanation: “He works. Above all, it shows the confidence he has when he plays with us. He is given a lot of balloons inside. He has this confidence and we have this confidence in him. I’ve always said it: it’s very easy to play with Rudy Gobert, very simple, you just have to trust him and know how to use him. When he is released like that, he takes shots, without hesitation, and he puts them.
The final word is for Evan Fournier, who bit his lip to try not to laugh when the question of this famous three points was discussed at a press conference. “I’m happy … but it may be bad news for the future,” he smiles, he who scored 20 points, fearing to see his comrade raining bricks. Obviously, this is said with all the kindness in the world. Note that Fournier had promised to hang up the day when Gobert would return a three-point shot … stepping back. There, it was just a three-pointer. “It’s okay, I still have time,” he laughs.
For the rest, Gobert believes that the Blues have “still things to correct” after this second preparation match for the World Cup (August 25-September 10), after Sunday’s 93-36 card against Tunisia. . “In both games, we gave too many offensive rebounds. It’s just concentration, you just have to be more physical and more focused on the little things. There are also small things to correct defensively. We help a little too much, we get a little too excited. Once we go down a little, our defense can really settle down, ”he notes. There is no more.
