NBA: superstar Wembanyama, the nice surprise Raynaud… The results of the French after the regular season

Nineteen French basketball players, a record, started the NBA season last October. Twenty-two ended it thanks to a few precarious contracts in the home stretch of the regular season. France has never had so many representatives. With Victor Wembanyama, she also has a candidate for the title of MVP, best player. We take stock of everyone.

The superstar

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs). Officially eligible for all trophies of the season, Wemby should win that of best defender, like Joakim Noah and Rudy Gobert before him. He will also undoubtedly be in the All-NBA first team, in the 5 Major of the season. Will he be MVP? To already be in the discussion is fantastic. Being elected seems (a little) less likely with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remaining favorite and Nikola Jokic still supersonic.

The revelation

Maxime Raynaud (Sacramento Kings). Drafted very far last summer (42nd), the brilliant mathematics graduate, specializing in artificial intelligence, arrived in the NBA when no one wanted him. And he broke everything. In a Californian team which did not put one foot in front of the other (22V, 60D), the former player from Nanterre and Charenton (2m16) established himself with an average of 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Next step: the French team. He will be available and he is a candidate for a first selection for the two July matches against Belgium and Finland.

Confirmations

Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves). From the first to the last day, he was (good) Rudy Gobert. Without Wemby, he, who wants to be the best defender in history, could have claimed a 5th trophy for best defender after 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2024. He finished the regular season with an average of 11 rebounds per game. His duel in the first round of the playoffs against Jokic will be magnificent, before perhaps meeting Wemby in the next one. His ultimate goal remains the NBA title

Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers). The Clippers play their season on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday in play-in against the Warriors. Will this be Norman’s last NBA game? He has not yet communicated his decision: retirement at 37 or not? In any case, we must take advantage of his presence. Coming off the bench, the former Manceau did what he does best: Batum. Work that is not always visible on the stats sheet (4 pts, 2.5 rebounds in 17.5 min), but which is essential.

Alexandre Sarr (Washington Wizards). Being a franchise player, the number 1 player, on the worst team in the NBA: this is the privilege of number 2 in the 2024 draft. On average (16.3 pts/game), he is the second best scorer in the French delegation behind Wemby (25). It does not disappoint. The interior will also be there this summer with the French team.

The questions

Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks). His future is no longer in Atlanta. Last week, the number 1 pick in the draft celebrated his 21st birthday without taking the court for the first time since he was in the NBA. The message is clear: the Hawks are no longer counting on him. His playing time decreased over the weeks. He needs to move this summer to relaunch a career which is starting to take a turn for the worst.

Bilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards). Funny season for the former revelation from Boulogne-Levallois. Absent due to injury for several weeks at the start, he finished with a points average of 11.7 pts. He remains a leading offensive weapon for the weak Wizards and he has gained momentum in recent weeks. But its room for improvement remains a mystery. We expect him with the Blues this summer after a disappointing Euro 2025.

Guerschon Yabusele (Chicago Bulls). A season started in New York and ended in Chicago. The NBA still has a hard time knowing what to do with the captain of the France team. Shelved at Madison Square Garden, the former Real Madrid player has relaunched himself very well in Jordan’s legendary franchise by once again paying for his contract out of his own pocket as in Philadelphia in 2024. In Europe, Panathinaikos wanted him at all costs. His love of the game deserves immense respect that merits recognition from the NBA.

And the others

This is already a nice surprise. NBA champion with OKC last year but without playing time, Ousmane Dieng went to Milwaukee and he’s brilliant. He surpassed the 30-point mark in a franchise in crisis which gives him the opportunity to show his talent. Noah Penda (Orlando Magic) also had a good rookie season by entering the Florida rotation for the long term. Nice season also for Sidy Cissokho to whom Portland ended up offering a real contract, proof of confidence.

Nolan Traore was patient and entered the 5 Major of the Brooklyn Nets. The former Saint-Quentin player has a bright future in the NBA. Same thing for Mohamed Diawara who manages to find a place in the very selective New York Knicks who trust him. When you’re French, it’s rare. Moussa Diabaté is part of Charlotte executives by playing 71 games out of the 82 for the season.

It is more complicated for Tidjane Salaün with the same Hornets, for Rayan Rupert transferred from Portland to Memphis, Killian Hayes tossed around from one franchise to another and who found a base in Sacramento and Pacôme Dadiet at the end of the bench in New York. With Rudy Gobert in Minneapolis, Joan Beringer continues his learning.

The French who arrived during the season are Olivier SarrAlexandre’s brother, arrived for 4 matches in Cleveland, honey for man who ended the season in Memphis with a precarious contract. For Noah Essengue (Chicago Bulls), the season was a nightmare. Three minutes of play with the Bulls in November, a shoulder injury and nothing more.