Following their heartbreaking defeat in last year’s Olympic final at home, France has been locked in on their path to redemption. 

The French didn’t drop a game in a little over a year, gaining confidence and momentum heading into EuroBasket 2025. During the competition itself, France breezed past Belgium and Slovenia before dropping a game against Israel. But so far, that seems to be the only knock on the French. 

France was out for vengeance against then-undefeated Poland, who stood toe-to-toe with the French. In the end, though, it was familiarity that won out.

One can’t deny how continuity has become a hallmark for France, who may not be fielding star power in their EuroBasket 2025 roster. They nonetheless still have veterans in Guerschon Yabusele, Isaia Cordinier, and Elie Okobo, along with young NBA French players in Bilal Coulibaly, Zaccharie Risacher, and Alexandre Sarr. Each have played different roles in previous international tournaments and they’ve stepped up as of late to advance to the EuroBasket 2025 Round of 16.

Yabusele could find himself as part of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 All-Tournament Team should the French go deep into the tournament. The 29-year old has refined his game with stints in the NBA, Liga ACB, and LNB Elite and with Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert sitting out, the opportunities mostly run through him. His skillset is clearly meant for the international game and he’s a matchup nightmare for all but a handful of teams in the field. 

Risacher was more comfortable in the second half of his rookie year in the NBA, and that has carried over to EuroBasket 2025, where he remains a steady presence for France. You’ll be hard-pressed to get a huge scoring night from the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he has emerged as a two-way force for France. 

Kevin Durant is right to take a shot against continuity especially in crunchtime against Team USA, but you have to hand it to France for keeping their basketball program running even with the absence of France’s golden generation. The program the French have put in place has allowed Yabusele the chance to thrive, while it has allowed a seamless transition for Risacher, who represented France at the junior level.  

Winning against Poland on their home court could have given France some parallels to their loss a year ago, especially those who experienced it firsthand. Not only does it prove they can win in a tough environment, but it also goes to show that they can win with whoever commits to the French basketball program for the long run. 

This is a relatively young squad for France, but this is their future sans a Victor Wembanyama and perhaps a Rudy Gobert. But many of these players will be part of future FIBA Basketball World Cup and Olympics squads and so, the chance to learn to win is now.