Joakim Noah Reveals the Bright Future of French Basketball

The Olympic gold medal game between the USA and France in men’s basketball was a focal point of the Paris Games this summer. While many were dazzled by Steph Curry’s crucial three-pointers securing a 98-87 victory for Team USA, Joakim Noah, a retired NBA star, watched with the seasoned eyes of an experienced Frenchman.

With a heritage as varied as Noah’s, his outlook is naturally distinctive. His father was a French tennis professional, and his mother was once Miss Sweden. Despite holding citizenship in three nations, Noah chose to play internationally for France during his career.

Noah was part of the French squad that clinched silver at EuroBasket 2011, but an injury prevented him from participating in the 2012 London Olympics. More than a decade later, at 39, he is impressed with the performance of the French national team.

In an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated during the U.S. Open, where he represented Emirates, the NBA’s official global airline partner and inaugural title sponsor of the Emirates NBA Cup, Noah shared his insights.

“Having the world’s best players on one stage is fantastic,” Noah commented regarding the USA-France match. “Whenever Team USA plays, it captures global attention. Now that I’m no longer playing, I understand its significance even more.”

“However, I viewed the game thinking about all the young French kids watching. It’s a huge motivational boost for the future athletes of France,” Noah continued. “With talents like [Victor] Wembanyama, who could be a cornerstone for the next 10 to 15 years, something special is happening at the grassroots level in France. It’s a smaller country compared to the U.S., but our talent pool is rich. It’s heartening to see our grassroots programs succeeding, and we should keep our focus there.”

It was the fourth instance in Olympic history that France reached the men’s basketball final, each time ending up second to the Americans, previously in 2020, 2000, and 1948.

Nonetheless, the future looks promising for French basketball. With rising stars like Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, and NBA rookies Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, there’s much to anticipate. These young players are setting the stage for what could be a revitalized era in French basketball.

Indeed, the NBA’s recent drafts suggest a growing French influence. Risacher and Sarr were selected consecutively at the very top of the 2024 NBA draft, marking the second consecutive year a French player was picked first overall. Additionally, their compatriot Tidjane Salaun was chosen sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets, a historical moment as it was the first time a non-U.S. country achieved three top-10 picks in the same draft.

These French newcomers face an arduous path to national team selection, but they might find valuable lessons in Noah’s experiences. As a seasoned NBA veteran who spent over a decade with teams like the Chicago Bulls, Noah understands the dedication required to excel on the global stage.

“I miss the thrill of competing at the highest level,” Noah reflected. “Knowing your motivations and maintaining emotional balance amidst the adrenaline rush of the game is crucial. The more you compete, the more you understand yourself and your competitive nature.”