Deprived of Victor Wenbanyama and several key players, France is banking on its youth for the Men's Basketball Euro

The news was expected, but dreaded by all supporters of the French basketball team. The French men's team will have to do without its star, Victor Wembanyama, at Euro 2025, which takes place from August 27 to September 14 in Latvia, Finland, Poland, and Cyprus. The San Antonio Spurs center's name does not appear on the list of 18 players pre-selected to prepare for the competition and presented by the new coach, Frédéric Fauthoux, on Friday, June 27, at the headquarters of the French Basketball Federation. "He would have liked to play. He has been disappointed since the moment he was injured, but it was too early in his recovery protocol," conceded Boris Diaw, the general manager of the French team.

Victor Wembanyama has not played with his NBA franchise since February – the major North American basketball league – due to a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. For his first competition at the helm of the French team, Frédéric Fauthoux, who took over from Vincent Collet in September 2024, will also be without Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, pillars of the French team for over ten years.

Despite these absences, six players who participated in the Olympic adventure in Paris in the summer of 2024 – beaten narrowly in the final by the United States (87-98) – are included in this pre-selection. Center Mathias Lessort, who seriously injured his left leg in December 2024 and who only participated in two Euroleague matches with his Greek club Panathinaikos, is notably making his return in the blue jersey.

While relying on experienced players, Frédéric Fauthoux has bet on youth for the first international deadline of his mandate as coach. Nadir Hifi, French champion with Paris Basketball, Tuesday June 24, and Zaccharie Risacher , selected first in the NBA draft (this sort of large exchange for young players) in 2024, could participate in their first international competition in the blue jersey. Just like Alexandre Sarr, second in the 2024 NBA draft, Moussa Diabaté and Ousmane Dieng, NBA champion with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sunday June 22. "Despite the absences, we see that there is a large pool of talent in France. I can't wait to start training in July and make the best possible selection," Frédéric Fauthoux rejoices.

France is not lacking ambition for this European tournament, but the coach remains cautious. "Like all Euros, it will be very open ," he anticipates. " Even [without some] major players, there is enough wealth in European basketball to build big teams (...) We will set ourselves objectives as the team progresses, but we must be very ambitious." Olympic runners-up at the Paris 2024 Games , the French also finished on the second step of the podium at the last Euro, in 2022, defeated by Spain in the final. Fourth in the International Basketball Federation rankings, France has been seeking a European title since 2013 – the year of its last title – and has reached the semi-finals four times in the last five editions.

This group will begin its preparation on July 25th at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance. It will end on August 25th. A month punctuated by five matches, including a double clash – on August 14th and 16th – with the Spanish, the reigning European champions. At the end of August, 12 players will be selected to compete in the European tournament, which, for the Blues, will begin in Poland on August 28th, against Belgium. They will then face Slovenia, featuring star Luka Doncic , Israel, Poland and Iceland in the group stage.