Wembanyama Wednesday: Vic will play for France’s national team, and it could change international basketball

This will be good preparation when the Olympics come to Paris in 2024.

Welcome to Wembanyama Wednesdays, our new recurring weekly post that will provide you with everything you need to know about Victor Wembanyama, the once-in-a-generation talent coming to an NBA team soon.

Scouts have seen Victor Wembanyama dominate against the G League Ignite. They have watched him become the best player in the French League.

His next evaluation, however, will come when he suits up for France’s national team during the upcoming FIBA window. It will give NBA teams even further context to the ways that Wembanyama can impact the game regardless of the stage.

This will be the first time Wembanyama represents France’s senior squad.

Here is what Wembanyama said about playing for his national team:

“I have already played in the French youth team (European silver medalist in the U16s and world silver medalist in the U19s) And that always gives me extra motivation. It is very important for me. I also find it in my teammates, in my opponents: fighting for your country is totally different, it gives you greater energy.”

Also on the roster are Ismael Kamagate (a big man who was selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft) and Axel Toupane (who has played in the NBA for the Nuggets, Bucks, and Pelicans).

Terry Tarpey and Andrew Albicy, who played for France when the squad won silver during the 2022 Eurobasket tournament, are on the squad as well.

The team is coached by Vincent Collet, who also coaches Wembanyama for Metropolitans 92. The big man said he expects to play a defensive-first role during his first appearance for France’s senior national team.

Collet, however, insisted that Wembanyama will be one of the team leaders and that they are counting on him to get the two wins during the international competition.

Wembanyama will likely play alongside Rudy Gobert for France when the Olympics come to Paris in 2024. The French national team received the silver medal competition at the Olympics in Tokyo, and they earned silver in Eurobasket as well.

But with the addition of Wembanyama, and potentially Joel Embiid, a new powerhouse could potentially emerge for the foreseeable future.