Wembanyama takes a step forward with France: new captain of the national team

Victor Wembanyama is no longer just the great star of French basketball. He will now also be their captain. The French Basketball Federation announced this Wednesday that the San Antonio Spurs player will take the captain's armband for Les Bleus during the upcoming international window, marking a new step forward in the leadership process of one of the world's great basketball talents.

At just 22 years old, Wembanyama takes over from Rudy Gobert, who served as captain of France during the qualification windows earlier this summer. The appointment comes just over two weeks after the center organized several training sessions and team-building activities in France with some of his Spurs teammates, showing his increasing involvement off the court as well.

"Being a captain is, above all, setting an example, being a leader through on-court performance, knowing the systems, the opponents and providing calm," explained Wembanyama, acknowledging that the responsibility has come sooner than expected. "It's probably earlier than I expected and surely sooner than everyone else expected. But it's not hasty either. It's a great honor, and I'm excited about it."

His debut as captain will come in a highly demanding scenario. France will face Serbia on Thursday and Sunday in two friendly matches, allowing the new leader of Les Bleus to measure up against one of the great European powers, with Nikola Jokic as the main reference. This will be followed by official competition: France will host Slovenia on August 27 in their first game of the European qualifying phase for the 2027 World Cup and then travel to Sweden to take on the host team on August 30.

Wembanyama is thus returning to the French national team after his last appearance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In that event, Les Bleus reached the final and won the silver medal after falling to the United States. The center averaged 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in the 179 minutes he played during the tournament.

But the Wembanyama returning to the national team now is an even more significant player. Since those Games, he has made another spectacular leap in the NBA. Last season, he became the first unanimous winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award, finished third in the MVP voting, and posted the best numbers of his career, with 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals.

France places a large part of their hopes for the upcoming major tournaments on him. Les Bleus aim to compete for gold at the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Wembanyama's appointment as captain thus signifies much more than a one-time decision for a qualification window: it confirms that the future of the French national team revolves around their great star.

Wemby, on fire with France

Wembanyama himself is aware of the special significance of representing his country. "It carries more weight because it lasts much shorter," he explained to L'Equipe. "The intensity of an Olympic campaign, for example, is concentrated in a few weeks. There are very few games in an international career, and each one really matters."

Now he will have an added responsibility. At just 22 years old, Wembanyama will lead a French generation that aims to turn their immense potential into titles. The next chapter begins against Serbia, with Jokic in front and the new captain of Les Bleus ready to take charge.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Wembanyama da un paso al frente con Francia: nuevo capitán de la selección