Vincent Collet has decided. In the absence of Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier assumed the duties of captain last year, during the European Championship. With the return of the first named for the 2023 campaign, the staff of the French basketball team therefore had a choice to make. “We’ll see. This will be discussed in our first meetings with the players. It is not fixed for the moment. Knowing that the previous captain was not in the team last year, the cards can be redistributed”, declared coach Collet at the end of June, during the announcement of the group for the World Cup (August 25-10 september). Finally, the cards have been redistributed: Batum, 34, regains the captain’s armband. It’s official.
Six-time medalist in the France team, including the European coronation in 2013, Nicolas Batum had succeeded Boris Diaw in these functions. The Clippers player has worn the Blues jersey 155 times. It will be 156 this Monday at 8:30 p.m. in Pau (live on France 4 and BeIN Sports 1), against Tunisia, the first preparation match for the World Cup. A meeting for which Mathias Lessort is spared and replaced by training partner Yves Pons.
