French Minister of Sports responds to Nicolas Batum’s statement following defeat to Latvia at FIBA World Cup.
The French national basketball team faced a debacle at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
After being considered one of the favorites, they were eliminated from medal contention in the initial round, following two defeats in the group stage.
In the aftermath of this collapse, public discourse has revolved around Thomas Heurtel. The team captain, Nicolas Batum, criticized the French Basketball Federation for not allowing Heurtel to represent the team.
Nicolas Batum on a possible addition of Joel Embiid to the ๐ซ๐ท French national team:
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“We need everyone in Paris, the best conditions, everyone. I don’t care about politics, we need the best possible team in France,” he stated after the match against Latvia on Sunday, with Heurtel in mind.
Heurtel was barred from playing for France due to his decision to compete in Russia following the conflict in Ukraine. Two days after Batum’s remarks, the French Minister of Sports and Olympics and Paralympics, Amelie Oudea-Castera, issued a statement.
“Decisions concerning Russia must not be called into question. They are dictated by the desire to protect our athletes, the level of ethics, and the consistency we maintain within the ministry.”
Thomas Heurtel was well aware that if he went to play in Russia, he would not be selected, yet he still made this decision. This matter of Heurtel’s presence in the team did not arise in reports. “We already have exceptional basketball players,” Oudea-Castera added.
Paris is set to host the 2024 Olympics. Despite the early defeats, France will participate in the tournament as the host nation.