While the NBA season resumes this Tuesday, an overview of the ambitions of the thirteen French who will be on the floor.
Alexis Ajinça (New Orleans, 29 years old, 5,3pts, 4,5rbds and 15min average in 39 regular season games last season)
In the NBA since 2008, the native center of St-Etienne is now a veteran of the floor. He will begin his fifth season in New Orleans, with the desire to erase his sad 2016-17 year, where he only averaged 5.3 points. Not really in the small papers of Alvin Gentry, Ajinça would not have been against a departure this summer. Especially with the presence of the monsters Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, the Pelicans racket is clogged and the Frenchman will still have to be content with the crumbs. Fortunately, his team should finally be able to fight for the play-offs.
Nicolas Batum (Charlotte, 28 years old, 15.1 pts, 5.6 rebounds, 5.9pds and 34min average in 77 games)
After a frustrating 2016-17 season, where he signed a very comprehensive sheet of stats but did not manage to lead his team in play-offs despite a good start of the season, the French winger hoped to leave on good bases at home the Hornets, around Kemba Walker and Dwight Howard. But he injured his elbow and will miss the first five to seven weeks of the season. His return should be of great benefit to the franchise chaired by Michael Jordan, because his versatility is rare in the NBA, although we would like it to be sometimes a little more individualistic. Batum chose to work all summer rather than participate in the Euro. This must translate into big performances this season.
Evan Fournier (Orlando, 24, 17.2pts, 3.1bds and 32.8min average in 68 games)
He is the best French scorer in the NBA, but he unfortunately does not move in a high-level franchise. An indisputable holder in Orlando, where he will start his fifth season, Fournier will still have trouble seeing the play-offs next spring, although the arrival of Jonathon Simmons and Arron Afflalo could improve the ordinary. The Frenchman's goal this season will be to further improve his stats (steadily increasing since his arrival in Florida) and to allow his team to stay in touch for the Top 8 as long as possible.
Rudy Gobert (Utah, 25 years old, 14pts, 12.8rbds and 33.9min in 81 games)
He is probably the most highly rated French player of the moment. Best boss and second best defenseman (behind Draymond Green) of the league last season, the pivot of Utah remains on an excellent 2016-17 year, where he showed that he was worth his contract at 100 million euros. But he played alongside Gordon Hayward, and he chose to leave the Jazz for Boston, which should plunge the hopes of the Salt Lake City franchise. Ricky Rubio has arrived and should feed the "Stifle Tower" in good balloons. Gobert will be the star of the team on paper, to him to prove again on the field.
Joffrey Lauvergne (San Antonio, 26, 5.4pts, 3.6rbds and 14min in 70 games with Oklahoma City and Chicago)
The French strong winger will wear the jersey of a different third team in a year. After Oklahoma City and Chicago, Lauvergne took the path to San Antonio after being left free by the Bulls. The former Chalonnais will have to make a place in the Spurs racket, behind Gasol and Aldridge. During the preparation games, he was already at ease (7pts, 6rbs in 17min) and Gregg Popovich congratulated him. But it will be necessary to confirm during the regular season.
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (Philadelphia, 22 years old, 6,4pts, 2,2rbds and 17,2min in 69 games)
His first season in the NBA was generally a success. If he had to go back and forth in the D-League at the beginning of the season, he then gradually took his place in the collective of the 76ers. In a franchise that trusts the young (the trio Embiid-Fultz-Simmons already promises a lot), the Frenchman has the means to grab the time of the game. He will have to try to increase his stats compared to last season , while allowing the 76ers to aim for the Top 8 as long as possible. On paper, there are (finally) beautiful things to do in Philadelphia.
Ian Mahinmi (Washington, 30 years old, 5.6pts, 4.6rbds and 17.9min in 31 games)
Disrupted by a knee injury, Ian Mahinmi did not even play half a season last year with Washington. But as soon as he returned to the floor, the pivot brought all its impact out of the bench, and contributed to the good course of the Wizards. This season, the franchise of the Capitale is a big outsider in the East behind Cleveland and Boston, and the Frenchman will still have a say in the snowshoe. Provided that his health finally leaves him in peace.
Yannis Morin (Oklahoma City, 24, first season in NBA)
The former strong winger of Cholet and Le Havre signed a contract with Oklahoma CitCity on October 11, but nothing says he will wear the Thunder jersey, which has become a "superteam" with arrivals Paul George and Carmelo Anthony this summer. The Martinique, unless a nice surprise, is more likely to go to classes in Development League before, why not, to finally taste the NBA, the real one!
Frank Ntilikina (New York, 19, first season in NBA)
The great hope of French basketball is it! At only 19 years old, the former leader of Strasbourg was drafted in 8th position by the Knicks, which none of his compatriots had never succeeded. Ntilikina will have a chance in a franchise undergoing reconstruction following the departure of Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony because his leaders are counting on him. He will not be able to wait for his first season (not Tony Parker who wants ...), but with Kristaps Porzingis and Enes Kanter at his side he can bring the Knicks back to the Top 10 play-offs?) after three catastrophic seasons.
Joakim Noah (New York, 32 years old, 5pts, 8.8bds, 2.2pts and 22.1min in 46 games)
Can the French pivot live a season worse than the previous one? A priori, no. Having arrived at the heart of his franchise of heart for 72 million euros over four years, the former Bulls first galley on the floor (only 5pts of average!), Before injuring knee at the end of February, then d be suspended for taking a prohibited product. The former top defenseman of the league owes a rematch to fans of the Knicks this season, and prove that he is not already cooked, at 32 years old. Within a franchise in reconstruction, it will have a role to play, and its defensive impact will not hurt. But he will be expected at the turn.
Tony Parker (San Antonio, 35 years old, 10.1pts, 4.5pds and 25.2min in 63 games)
Quadruple champion, the French basketball veteran in the NBA will miss the first part of the season due to his severe injury to the left quadriceps. The leader hopes to be back in December or January, and there is no doubt that Gregg Popovich will take all his time to get him back gradually in the five. It is at the end of the regular season and in play-offs that the n ° 9 will be scrutinized. At age 35, he is no longer expected to play 20-point games and 10 assists, but his experience and knowledge of the game are second to none.
Yakuba Ouattara (Brooklyn, 25, first season in NBA)
After two seasons in Monaco, the born born in Ghana decided to make the big leap towards the NBA. But he only signed a "two way contract", which means he will make back and forth between the Brooklyn Nets team and the Development League. His goal will be to stay as often as possible within the team one, which should not have big ambitions this season. Within a limited workforce, at the Franchie to make its place.
Gershon Yabusele (Boston, 21, NBA first season)
Drafted in 16th position by the Celtics in 2016, the strong winger was then sent to China, then in the League of Development, where he rather shone. This season, the former Roannais and Rouennais (who had an ankle surgery at the end of May) should have a chance, but in a team that is aiming for the top of the Eastern Conference with a high quality workforce, beat to grab minutes. And above all to be irreproachable in defense.
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