Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama: Can France’s defending duo be the bedrock of a dream team for Paris 2024?
Two Frenchman. Two NBA Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) finalists.
For France, silver medallists from Tokyo 2020, it’s certainly a promising picture.
Rudy Gobert, a key figure in the Minnesota Timberwolves roster that recently swept the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs, stands on the precipice of history.
If he wins the award, it would mark a fourth DPOY title putting him in an exclusive club alongside other NBA greats: Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace.
There is plenty of supporting evidence that the 31-year-old will win it. In addition to continuously being a rim deterrence, Gobert averaged 2.1 blocks, 0.6 steals, 9.2 defensive rebounds and 1.6 deflections per game during the regular season. It’s a stark improvement from last year when doubts swirled surrounding his blockbuster move.
For Victor Wembanyama, winner of the NBA Rookie of the Year 2024 title, the nod speaks to an extraordinary season; more extraordinary than many had even predicted.
The 20-year-old phenom, widely expected to have an instant impact on the league, didn’t wait to make his presence known.
Walking away from his first season with an average of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a monster 3.6 blocks a game, Wembanyama has been playing beyond his years.
For now, the two are contenders. And Wembanyama, eliminated from the playoff picture a while ago made light fun of the fact he was competing for an award with a player that was once his mentor.
“I know that Rudy (Gobert) has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved. Let him win it now, because after that it's no longer his turn," he said to the San Antonio Express News.
But his fire is inspiring and while the race to the crown is expected to go down to the wire, the bigger picture is arguably even more exciting.
As Paris 2024 approaches, can Gobert and Wembanyama combine to make Les Bleus better than ever?
French basketball superstars Rudy Gobert (left) and Victor Wembanyama (right) shake hands after exchanging jerseys.
The revival of Rudy Gobert
“Most fans don't find defence exciting, but that's OK. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to win,” Gobert said exclusively to Olympics.com last summer at a France training camp.
Perhaps no one knows better than Gobert about the thankless task often assumed by a defender. Being a world-class rim protector can be lonely on a stage where dunks and three-point shots are clipped up and shared with a frenzy.
But his words also speak to an instinct that France, come the Games in the summer, will be depending on if they are to upgrade from their silver in Japan three years ago.
Les Bleus rocked the basketball world order when they defeated Team USA in the group stage at Tokyo 2020. The two teams later met in the final, and while the French team wasn't able to do the deed a second time, they had come closer than ever before.
Since then things have shifted. International basketball and the rise of players outside of the USA continue to grow at a rapid pace. All three finalists for the NBA’s coveted MVP award are all foreign to American shores and this year’s draft is expected to be dominated by imports.
France’s form has also dipped. A shocking early departure from the FIBA World Cup last summer brought the French crashing back down to earth.
Though not the only top-tier team that limped away from the tournament co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, the Olympic hosts were undoubtedly bruised by the encounter. Questions began to rage about their readiness for the Games.
That Gobert returned to the NBA for his second season with the Timberwolves and has put on a show worthy of a DPOY finalist suggests that he was serious about improving when it came to Olympic contention. And even as the playoffs continue, Paris 2024 is never far from his thoughts.
He recently revealed he has applied to be the French flag bearer in the Opening Ceremony.
"Of course, I'm applying, I've always dreamed of it, and it would be an incredible honour," he told Le Monde. "I have always devoted myself to the French team and this would be a new way to represent the country."
Paris 2024: The beginning of international Wemby-mania
A peaking Gobert aside, the other difference for Les Bleus since the World Cup has been the ascent of Wembanyama.
Despite chipping in for France during qualifiers, the NBA rookie opted out of competing at worlds citing his need to prepare for the bigger things in wait.
His presence was missed. During the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers he was exceptional, averaging 19.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in four games - all of which ended in victory.
Since then the phenom has only grown in force and has now run out against the myriad Team USA stars set to appear at the Games through the NBA season.
All of it has only sharpened his ambition. In March this year, he declared that anything other than gold for France in Paris “would be a failure”
He continued: "You shouldn't have any regrets but it's a very achievable goal."
Given his 2.24m lithe and athletic frame, it's not hard to imagine how much of a nuisance Wembanyama threatens to be in Paris should he be named to the final 12-player roster.
And with time to prepare his body given his NBA season is already over he will be refreshed where others might well not be.
Whatever may come with the NBA post-season shifting into gear, France's men will all need to rally if they are to change the narrative and perform for eager supporters at home. And with the weight expectation surely about to fall on their shoulders they will turn to Gobert and Wembanyama and hope the the defending duo can lead the way.