This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Bryan Kalbrosky.
Victor Wembanyama, the world’s best basketball prospect, has a real chance to make history.
Wembamyama is heavily favored as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he is projected to make a massive impact during his rookie season for the Spurs. But no matter how it goes in San Antonio, once his first year in the U.S. is over, the big man business to take care of back home in France.
The 7-foot-4 center plans to suit up for Team France when Paris hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics.
With him on the floor, Les Bleus has a chance to take home a gold medal in basketball for the first time in the nation’s history. Meanwhile, other than the U.S. in 1984 and 1996, no host country has ever won gold for men’s basketball at the Olympics.
Wembamyama told ESPN on Wednesday:
“There could be no more perfect occasion for me to win my first title with the French national team. …
“My goal … is to beat Team USA in the final.”
During group play in Tokyo, the French team handed the U.S. its first Olympics loss since 2004. The U.S. defeated France in the gold medal game, and France finished with a silver medal.
The French national team is currently ranked No. 5 in the FIBA world rankings, and they finished second in the recent Eurobasket tournament. The roster had several NBA players, including Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier.
But the country has never had anyone as dynamic as Wembanyama. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently described the big man as the greatest prospect in the history of team sports, and while that feels aggressive, his size and his skill set make him the most unique.
How many other basketball players in the world can attempt a stepback 3-pointer and then turn it into a putback dunk? There is a reason why Magic Johnson told For The Win that Wembanyama will “change his franchise” and the league forever.
During a four-game stretch in FIBA’s European Qualifiers, Wembanyama suited up for France’s senior squad for the first time.
While he was still just 18 years old during the first two games, his stats were jaw-dropping. Per 40 minutes, via Cerebro Sports: The big man averaged 29.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 4.3 blocks. He also shot 8-of-17 (47.1 percent) on his 3-pointers. France won all four games.
France is coached by Vincent Collet, who also coaches Wembanyama on Metropolitans 92 in France’s top-tier league. Wembanyama secured the scoring title, and he also led the league in rebounds, blocks and total minutes.
Despite the emergence of Wembanyama, however, the U.S. should be favored to win win the gold medal in Paris. But those odds could easily swing based on a decision from Joel Embiid, who gained French citizenship and U.S. citizenship last year.
Former NBA player Boris Diaw, who is the general manager of the French national men’s basketball team, “remains confident” that Embiid will play for Les Bleus in the Olympics.
Embiid could change the landscape of international basketball with his Olympic decision. But he isn’t the only player with a massive decision to make.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, amid speculation about his potential retirement, LeBron James is unlikely to participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. It’s unclear what the rest of the roster could look like, but it was a mess in Tokyo, and they’ll need serious depth in the frontcourt.
The U.S. frankly may not have the size necessary to match up with a team that includes Embiid, Wembanyama and Gobert. Especially as the host country, France could have a real shot at a gold medal.
Quick Hits: Dirty plays in the NHL … A ridiculously upset Bryce Harper … and more.
— NHL fans couldn’t believe Jamie Benn’s explanation for a dirty crosscheck was the best he could do
— Bryce Harper was lucky to avoid an ejection after furiously shouting at the umpire between innings
— NBA prospect Brandon Miller has an explanation for why he has lost 13 pounds since the NCAA season ended
— Roger Goodell potentially moving the Jaguars to London for 3 weeks is an insult to Jacksonville fans
Until the next time, friends!