Are Les Bleus a serious threat for gold?
The US rolled over Serbia Sunday as you probably already know. We’re not saying the US will win, but the Americans will always be one of the favorites in basketball.
The truth so far is that most other national teams rise and fall with great players. Argentina had Manu Ginobli. Spain had the Gasol brothers and Ricky Rubio. Brazil had Oscar Schmidt. The USSR had Arvydas Sabonis.
And now France has Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama is just 20 and he’s rail thin, but he’s the most intriguing young player in the world. He’s got a full toolkit though and he can shoot threes, pass, rebound, block shots and lead the break, all at 7-4. Look at what he did against Brazil.
And, don’t overlook this, he’s playing at home in the Olympics.
France is playing in Group B with Germany, Brazil and Japan. Brazil is not a major factor in this era and while we love how Japan plays, the odds of them advancing are minimal. Realistically the two teams that are going to advance are almost certainly France and Germany. And in the medal round, at home in Paris, the French will have a major advantage. And it could be the dawn of the age of Wembanyama in the Olympics. Their guard play is not great, that seems true, but emotion can overcome a lot.
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