France men's national basketball team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
France

FIBA ranking	9 (1 March 2024)
Joined FIBA	1933
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	FFBB
Coach	Frédéric Fauthoux
Nickname(s)	Les Bleus (The Blues)
Olympic Games
Appearances	11
Medals	Silver: (1948, 2000, 2020, 2024)
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	9
Medals	Bronze: (2014, 2019)
EuroBasket
Appearances	39
Medals	Gold: (2013) Silver: (1949, 2011, 2022) Bronze: (1937, 1951, 1953, 1959, 2005, 2015)
First Second
First international
Italy 23–17 France  (Milan, Italy; 4 April 1926)
Biggest win
France 100–6 Austria  (Prague, Czechoslovakia; 28 April 1947)
Biggest defeat
United States 120–62 France  (Los Angeles, California, US; 3 August 1984)

The France men's national basketball team is also known as Les Bleus (The Blues). They represent France in international basketball games. The team is managed by the French Federation of Basketball. Currently, France is ranked fourth in the world by FIBA.

France often plays in the EuroBasket tournament. They have appeared 39 times. Their best result was winning the gold medal in 2013. They also won three silver medals in 1949, 2011, and 2022. Plus, they earned six bronze medals.

At the FIBA World Cup, France has won two bronze medals. These were in 2014 and 2019. In the Summer Olympics, France has won four silver medals. These were in 1948, 2000, 2020, and 2024.

History of French Basketball

France national team in 1919

Early Years and Medals (1919–1959)

The French national basketball team has had many ups and downs. They often won medals in streaks.

In Europe, France was a strong team early on. They won five medals at the EuroBasket between 1937 and 1959.

• 1937: Bronze Medal
• 1949: Silver Medal
• 1951: Bronze Medal
• 1953: Bronze Medal
• 1959: Bronze Medal

Their success on the world stage began in the late 1940s. At the 1948 Olympics in London, the French team won an Olympic silver medal. This was their first Olympic medal ever. They finished second only to the United States.

After this Olympic medal, France won three more medals in a row. They got silver at the EuroBasket in 1949. Then, they won bronze in 1951 and 1953.

However, the team's performance slowly declined. They did not win any medals at major international games during the 1960s and 1970s.

A New Hope (1980–1989)

After a tough period, the 1980s brought new hope. Famous French basketball players like Richard Dacoury, Stéphane Ostrowski, and Hervé Dubuisson joined the team.

During this time, France returned to the Olympics in 1984. They also played in the World Cup in 1986.

Ups and Downs (1990–2000)

The 1990s had some good moments for France. But they also faced internal problems and many injuries to key players. They did not win a medal at the European championship.

However, 1999 and 2000 were better years. The team, with players like Antoine Rigaudeau and Tariq Abdul-Wahad, finished in the top 4 at the EuroBasket 1999. In 2000, France qualified for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. They won the silver medal, which was their first major basketball medal in 46 years. It was also their first Olympic medal in 52 years.

Tony Parker's Era Begins (2001–2010)

After the 2000 Olympics, Tony Parker was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs. At the EuroBasket 2001, France did not do as well without Antoine Rigaudeau. The 19-year-old Parker was not enough to lead them to another medal. They lost in the quarter-finals and finished 6th.

Many older players left the team. A new generation of talented players came in. France's junior team had won the 2000 junior championship.

At the EuroBasket 2003, France had a very talented team. It included NBA players like Tony Parker, Jérôme Moïso, and Tariq Abdul-Wahad. Future star Boris Diaw was also on the team. But they lost in the semi-finals and then the bronze medal game.

For EuroBasket 2005, France changed its team strategy. They focused on team chemistry instead of just big names. The team was built around Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, and Mickaël Piétrus. They also brought back veteran Antoine Rigaudeau. This new team played very well in the knockout stage. They won the bronze medal by beating Spain 98–68.

At the 2006 FIBA World Cup, Tony Parker could not play due to an injury. France finished fifth after losing in the quarter-finals.

In EuroBasket 2007, France again did not meet expectations. They lost in the quarter-finals to Russia. They finished eighth and missed out on the Olympic Games. In 2009, Vincent Collet became the new coach.

Under Coach Collet, Les Bleus qualified for EuroBasket 2009. They won their first six games but lost to Spain in the quarter-finals. France finished fifth, which helped them qualify for the next two major events.

Becoming a World Power (2011–Present)

Nicolas Batum helped Team France win silver at the EuroBasket 2011.

After a tough 2010 FIBA World Cup, France had high hopes for EuroBasket 2011. They played very well, with Tony Parker leading the way. They won all their group games.

In the second group phase, France won two more games before losing to Spain. This was enough to reach the quarter-finals. They beat Greece and then Russia.

France reached the EuroBasket final for the first time since 1949. They played against Spain but lost. Still, with Tony Parker's amazing play, France showed they were a top team.

The 2012 Summer Olympics saw France exit in the quarter-finals. For EuroBasket 2013, France was determined to do better. After an early loss, they played strongly and finished first in their group.

In the quarter-finals, France beat the host team, Slovenia. This set up a rematch with Spain in the semi-finals. France fought back from a big deficit and won in overtime, led by Tony Parker's 32 points.

France then played Lithuania in the final. After years of trying, France finally became European champions! Tony Parker was named the tournament's MVP.

Because of their EuroBasket 2013 win, France qualified for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Even without Tony Parker, other players stepped up. They were in a tough group but managed to advance.

In the Round of 16, France beat Croatia. Then, in the quarter-finals, they surprised many by beating Spain. This was a big win against one of the favorites.

France lost to Serbia in the semi-finals. But they bounced back to win the bronze medal game against Lithuania.

France national team after winning silver medals at the EuroBasket 2011

France was one of the hosts for EuroBasket 2015. Tony Parker returned to the team, and France was a favorite to win again. They won all their group games.

They easily beat Turkey in the Round of 16. In the quarter-finals, they defeated Latvia. But in the semi-finals, they lost a close game to Spain, led by Pau Gasol. France then won the bronze medal by beating Serbia.

France qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics. They reached the quarter-finals but lost to Spain again. After this tournament, Tony Parker retired from the national team.

At EuroBasket 2017, France had a disappointing performance. They lost in the Round of 16 to Germany. This was their worst finish at the Euros since 1963.

France qualified for the 2019 FIBA World Cup with a strong record. At the World Cup, they started well, beating Germany in a close game. They easily won their other group games.

In the next round, France beat Lithuania. This secured their spot in the quarter-finals. They then lost to Australia.

In the quarter-finals, France faced the favorite team, the United States. Led by Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert, France pulled off a huge upset, winning 89–79! This sent them to the semi-finals against Argentina. However, they lost to Argentina. France then won the bronze medal by beating Australia in a rematch.

France automatically qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics. In their first game, they again defeated the United States. France reached the semi-finals and had a thrilling win against Slovenia, thanks to Nicolas Batum's game-saving block. In the final, they faced the United States again but had to settle for the silver medal.

For EuroBasket 2022, France qualified with a good record. After an early loss, they played well in the group stage. In the knockout rounds, they had two very close overtime wins against Turkey and Italy. They then easily beat Poland in the semi-finals. France reached the final but lost to Spain, earning another silver medal.

France qualified for the 2023 FIBA World Cup with a strong qualifying record. However, they had a very disappointing tournament. They were eliminated early after losing two of their three group games.

Team Records

FIBA World Cup Appearances

France has played in the FIBA World Cup 9 times. They have won 37 games and lost 31.

World Cup						Qualification
Year	Position	Pld	W	L		Pld	W	L
1950	6th	8	2	6		Direct qualification
1954	4th	9	4	5		EuroBasket served as qualifiers
1959	Did not qualify
1963	5th	9	4	5
1967	Did not qualify
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986	13th	5	3	2		6	3	3
1990	Did not qualify					EuroBasket served as qualifiers
1994
1998
2002
2006	5th	9	6	3
2010	13th	6	3	3
2014		9	6	3
2019		8	6	2		12	10	2
2023	18th	5	3	2		12	10	2
2027	To be determined					To be determined
Total	9/19	68	37	31		30	23	7

Olympic Games Appearances

France has played in the Olympic Games 11 times. They have won 40 games and lost 32.

Olympic Games						Qualifying
Year	Position	Pld	W	L		Pld	W	L
1936	19th	2	0	2
1948		7	5	2
1952	8th	8	4	4
1956	4th	8	5	3
1960	10th	8	5	3		Direct qualification
1964	Did not qualify					8	6	2
1968						8	7	1
1972						9	5	4
1976						5	2	3
1980						10	6	4
1984	11th	7	1	6		9	6	3
1988	Did not qualify					9	2	7
1992						6	5	1
1996						Did not qualify
2000		8	4	4		Direct qualification
2004	Did not qualify					Did not qualify
2008
2012	6th	6	4	2		Direct qualification
2016	6th	6	3	3		4	4	0
2020		6	5	1		Direct qualification
2024		6	4	2		Qualified as host
2028	To be determined					To be determined
Total	11/21	72	40	32		68	43	25

EuroBasket Appearances

France has played in the EuroBasket 39 times. They have won 165 games and lost 137.

EuroBasket						Qualification
Year	Position	Pld	W	L		Pld	W	L
1935	5th	4	3	1
1937		5	3	2
1939	4th	7	4	3
1946	4th	4	2	2
1947	5th	6	4	2
1949		6	5	1
1951		9	6	3
1953		10	6	4
1955	9th	10	8	2
1957	8th	10	2	8
1959		9	6	3
1961	4th	8	5	3
1963	13th	9	3	6		Direct qualification
1965	9th	9	4	5		3	3	0
1967	11th	9	4	5		2	2	0
1969	Did not qualify					4	1	3
1971	10th	7	1	6		4	4	0
1973	10th	7	1	6		9	8	1
1975	Did not qualify					8	3	5
1977	11th	7	2	5		8	6	2
1979	8th	8	5	3		8	8	0
1981	8th	8	4	4		Direct qualification
1983	5th	7	4	3		Qualified as host
1985	6th	8	2	6		Direct qualification
1987	9th	7	3	4
1989	6th	5	2	3		9	7	2
1991	4th	5	1	4		6	4	2
1993	7th	9	6	3		Direct qualification
1995	8th	9	4	5		6	5	1
1997	10th	8	2	6		10	10	0
1999	4th	9	6	3		Qualified as host
2001	6th	6	3	3		Direct qualification
2003	4th	6	4	2		10	8	2
2005		7	4	3		Direct qualification
2007	8th	9	4	5
2009	5th	9	8	1		12	7	5
2011		11	9	2		Direct qualification
2013		11	8	3
2015		9	8	1		Qualified as co-host
2017	12th	6	3	3		Direct qualification
2022		9	6	3		6	4	2
2025	To be determined					To be determined
Total	39/41	302	165	137		105	80	25

Current Team Roster

This is the team roster for the upcoming EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers games in November 2024.

France men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SG 5 Adam Mokoka 26 – (1998-07-18)18 July 1998 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Cluj-Napoca PG 6 Andrew Albicy 34 – (1990-03-21)21 March 1990 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Gran Canaria PF 12 Noa Essengue 17 – (2006-12-18)18 December 2006 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) Ulm SG 15 Nicolas Lang 34 – (1990-05-01)1 May 1990 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Limoges PF 20 Amine Noua 27 – (1997-02-07)7 February 1997 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) Granada PG 30 Nolan Traoré 18 – (2006-05-28)28 May 2006 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Saint-Quentin F/C 39 Yoan Makoundou 24 – (2000-08-09)9 August 2000 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) Türk Telekom PG 66 Hugo Benitez 23 – (2001-01-20)20 January 2001 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Bourg C 72 Jean-Marc Pansa 27 – (1997-08-20)20 August 1997 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Bourg G/F 90 Paul Lacombe 34 – (1990-06-12)12 June 1990 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Nanterre C 91 Brice Dessert 21 – (2003-03-25)25 March 2003 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) Strasbourg SF 95 Axel Bouteille 29 – (1995-04-14)14 April 1995 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Bahçeşehir Koleji	Head coach Frédéric Fauthoux Assistant coach(es) Laurent Vila Bryan George Joseph Gomis Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 21 November 2024

Team Positions (Depth Chart)

This chart shows which players usually start and who are their backups for each position.

Coaches Through the Years

Here are the head coaches who have led the French national basketball team:

Famous Players and Records

Retired Jersey Number

Tony Parker, who was the MVP of the EuroBasket 2013, is the only player to have his number retired.

The French Basketball Federation honored Tony Parker by retiring his number 9 jersey. This happened on July 12, 2024. It was the first time a jersey number was retired in any sport in France.

Key Players in History

Many great players have been part of the French national team. Here are some of them:

• Tariq Abdul-Wahad – played for NBA teams like the Sacramento Kings.
• Nicolas Batum – a guard-forward who has played for several NBA teams.
• Jean-Paul Beugnot – recognized as one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players.
• Jim Bilba – a EuroLeague champion.
• André Buffière – a member of the French Basketball Hall of Fame.
• Robert Busnel – a French basketball legend; the French Basketball Cup is named after him.
• Jacques Cachemire – a 3-time FIBA European Selection player.
• Richard Dacoury – a EuroLeague champion and 3-time FIBA European Selection player.
• Nando de Colo – played guard for NBA teams like the San Antonio Spurs.
• Boris Diaw – a forward-center who played for many NBA teams.
• Hervé Dubuisson – a FIBA European Selection player.
• Evan Fournier – a guard-forward who plays in the NBA.
• Alain Gilles – recognized as one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players.
• Rudy Gobert – a center who plays for NBA teams.
• Joakim Noah – a former NBA center.
• Stéphane Ostrowski – a 5-time FIBA European Selection player.
• Tony Parker – the MVP of EuroBasket 2013 and a key player for France.
• Mickaël Piétrus – a guard-forward who played in the NBA.
• Antoine Rigaudeau – a former guard who played for the Dallas Mavericks.
• Ronny Turiaf – a former forward-center who played in the NBA.

Players with the Most Games Played

Here are the players who have played the most games for France. Players in bold are still playing.

Players with the Most Points Scored

Here are the players who have scored the most points for France. Players in bold are still playing.

Highest Individual Scoring Games

Here are the top individual scoring performances in a single game for France. Players in bold are still playing.

Rank	Player	Date	Competition	Opponent	Points Scored
1.	Hervé Dubuisson	21 November 1985	1986 FIBA World Cup Qualification	Greece	51
2.	Hervé Dubuisson	28 June 1981	Friendly	Italy	39
	Hervé Dubuisson	7 June 1985	EuroBasket 1985	Poland
4.	Hervé Dubuisson	21 May 1984	1984 Summer Olympics Qualification	Sweden	38
	Yann Bonato	30 June 1995	EuroBasket 1995	Yugoslavia
6.	Hervé Dubuisson	17 May 1980	1980 Summer Olympics Qualification	Czechoslovakia	37
	Richard Dacoury	26 May 1989	Friendly	West Germany
	Tony Parker	20 September 2008	EuroBasket 2009 Qualification	Turkey
9.	Hervé Dubuisson	9 June 1987	EuroBasket 1987	Israel	36
	Tony Parker	4 September 2007	EuroBasket 2007	Italy

Media Coverage

France's basketball games are shown on TV by France Télévisions.

Team Gear

Manufacturer

• 2003–2013: Nike
• 2014–2017: Adidas
• 2017–present: Jordan Brand

Sponsor

• 2019–present: Amazon
• 2019–present: Suzuki

See also

In Spanish: Selección de baloncesto de Francia para niños

• Sport in France
• France women's national basketball team
• France men's national under-20 basketball team
• France men's national under-19 basketball team
• France men's national under-17 basketball team
• France men's national 3x3 team