00:00He's a rising star.
00:02Saar goes in, and one throws it down.
00:05And Alex Saar is adding to France's big man depth.
00:14Germany's MVP is on the move.
00:17Schroeder running at the D, puts it up on the stride!
00:19Got it!
00:21And thrilling comebacks in the BCL.
00:24The Cavishess!
00:25And the follow from Brown!
00:27FIBA World Basketball starts now.
00:37This atmosphere is as hot as it comes in international basketball.
00:46Great players make great plays.
00:50He is now in the game, big time.
00:59France arrived at last year's FIBA Euro Basket as one of the most talented teams in the competition.
01:04Even without long-time national team greats Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, or rising star Victor Wembenyama, this was a
01:12deep team expected to go far.
01:14Look outside, four and a three.
01:16Everybody getting in the mix tonight for Le Bleu.
01:19But after sailing through the group phase with a four and one record, Le Bleu found themselves heading home early,
01:25stunned by Georgia in the round of 16.
01:28The writing is on the wall for Le Bleu is going to be it.
01:32The celebration is on in Tbilisi.
01:36It was a setback for one of international basketball's strongest programs, the silver medalist at the past two Olympics, including
01:43on home soil at Paris 2024 and eyeing a run at gold at L.A. 2028.
01:51But the outlook remains bright.
01:53Gobert, still among the NBA's elite defenders, plans to return to the national team during the offseason to help France
02:00qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
02:04And the Minnesota Timberwolves big man hopes to be there in Qatar next year and again at the L.A.
02:11Games in 2028.
02:12Yeah, great pass and he was strong with it. Big bad Rudy Gobert.
02:21That's the goal, he told L'Equipe last week.
02:23I want to help France win titles and I want to do everything possible to make that happen.
02:28I want to contribute at all of these events and I hope I'll be able to.
02:34There's further optimism elsewhere.
02:36Wem Van Yama continues to dazzle for the San Antonio Spurs, earning a second straight NBA All-Star selection.
02:45While Alex Saar has taken a leap in his second season with the Washington Wizards and will feature in the
02:51Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend.
02:55Saar goes in and one throws it down.
02:59Yeah, it's exciting. It's exciting that I get to go there with two of my teammates again.
03:04We're going to have a good time. It's a good experience. So I'm excited to play that game.
03:09Saar, who went to Eurobasket last year before injury cut his tournament short, is averaging just under 18 points and
03:15eight rebounds a game for the Wizards.
03:17But it's his defensive work that stands out, registering over two blocks a night to trail only Wem Van Yama.
03:24His ability to execute multiple coverages throughout the game. It's a really unique skill set he has.
03:29And we're continuing to get better with things that we can put him in.
03:32But that's a unique player and he does unique things.
03:38Saar is becoming a cornerstone of the next generation of Le Bleu, alongside Wem Van Yama and a wave of
03:44young talent,
03:45including Zachary Risache, Bilal Koulibaly and Nolan Traore.
03:52But it's France's depth that faces the next test as the national team turns its attention to the second window
03:58of the FIBA World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.
04:02Le Bleu sit at one and one, heading into a home and away series against Hungary.
04:15And a pair of victories would give France a platform for its NBA stars to build upon later in the
04:21year.
04:22Back to Krappelli, goes in, goodbye! Au revoir! Get out of here!
Comments