[PtR] 文班亚马在巴黎：法国篮球的门面 ▶️

[PtR]

By Pedro_Orthez | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-01-22 02:00:00

由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。

文班是法国篮球的冰山一角

圣安东尼奥马刺队来到巴黎，与印第安纳步行者队进行两场NBA常规赛，这对法国篮球天才文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)来说，某种程度上算得上是一次回乡之旅。正如文班自己最近分享的那样，他从未想过能在职业生涯的早期就有机会在家乡参加NBA比赛。很明显，联盟渴望展示他的全球吸引力，但这项赛事不仅仅关乎一位球星——它突出了一个更广泛的运动：法国篮球的崛起，以及令人难以置信的人才输送线，连续两年涌现出NBA选秀状元，2023年的文班亚马和2024年的扎卡里·里萨切(Zaccharie Risacher)。

对文班来说，这次旅行也是一个反思自己根源的时刻。巴黎是2024年奥运会的举办城市，他曾在那里带领法国队获得奥运银牌，这段记忆与法国篮球的显著崛起息息相关。

80年代末90年代初的法国：另一个世界

这段旅程的根源可以追溯到90年代初。1993年5月，法国国家篮球联赛(LNB)在巴黎西边的小镇埃夫勒举行了全明星赛。那一年，我有机会见到了18岁的奥利维尔·圣让(Olivier Saint-Jean)和他的母亲。奥利维尔是法国篮球界冉冉升起的新星，也是埃夫勒的本土人才，这使得这项赛事更加特别。和文班一样，奥利维尔也来自巴黎郊区，出生在凡尔赛，距离文班的出生地勒谢奈不远。

当时，法国的篮球人才培养体系正在发展。法国国家体育运动专业学院(INSEP)已经存在，但还没有像今天这样强大。相反，许多像我这样的年轻球员都是从地区各种球队，经过U15-U19国家队，再到Espoirs球队（隶属于职业俱乐部的U22球队）一步步晋升的。这些球队为职业球员提供了一条关键的道路，将青年发展与和经验丰富的球员一起训练的机会相结合。像埃兰贝阿奈斯奥尔泰兹、ASVEL和肖莱这样的俱乐部尤其以培养年轻人才而闻名，像安托万·里戈多(Antoine Rigaudeau)这样的球员就为后来者指明了道路。

图片来自MEHDI FEDOUACH/法新社，通过Getty Images

塔里克·阿卜杜·瓦哈德：开拓者

但在1993年，奥利维尔选择了一条不同的道路，打破传统，选择去美国的密歇根大学打大学篮球。在当时，这几乎是不可想象的——一个年轻的法国球员放弃了在法国的成熟道路，去NCAA碰运气。尤其是加盟狼獾队，这支球队仅仅在两年之前还拥有着他们的五虎将，并打进了总决赛！然而，奥利维尔在那里茁壮成长，最终转学到圣何塞州立大学，在那里他成为了一名球星，并在1997年被萨克拉门托国王队以第11顺位选中，没错，就是蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)那一年。那时奥利维尔已经皈依伊斯兰教，并以塔里克·阿卜杜·瓦哈德(Tariq Abdul-Wahad)的名字成为了第一个征战NBA的法国球员。

这一关键时刻凸显了法国发展模式需要改变。法国篮球联合会意识到了失去最优秀球员到国际赛场，特别是NCAA的风险。INSEP通过加强其项目来应对，让年轻球员有更多机会与经验丰富的职业球员竞争，例如U17 INSEP队，以及为最优秀的人才搭建重返职业俱乐部的桥梁。这种演变帮助培养了黄金一代球员，包括托尼·帕克(Tony Parker)、鲍里斯·迪奥(Boris Diaw)和罗尼·图里亚夫(Rony Turiaf)，他们的旅程始于INSEP，之后在NBA和法国国家队取得了全球性的成功。

在那个年代，信息十分匮乏。没有互联网，像我这样的年轻篮球迷只能依靠我们每月的杂志《MaxiBasket》和Canal+ NBA的电视报道来获取信息。我仍然记得我最喜欢的球员的海报——大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)是我的英雄，即使是在公牛队迈克尔·乔丹(Michael Jordan)统治的时代。

新媒体，新道路

快进到今天，篮球的格局已经发生了翻天覆地的变化。社交媒体、YouTube和智能手机彻底改变了球探工作，为年轻球员带来了机遇和挑战。有天赋的球员比以往任何时候都更早地被发现，现在许多人选择去国外发展他们的技能。像西迪·西索科(Sidy Cissoko)（13岁就去了西班牙的巴斯科尼亚！）和亚历克斯·萨尔(Alex Sarr)（14岁加入了皇家马德里的青年队）这样的球员正在开辟新的道路，拥抱全球化的经验，并适应远离家乡的生活。

虽然这些道路提供了宝贵的个人成长和曝光机会，但也突出了其中的取舍。与留在法国，通过INSEP进步，并在LNB与职业球员竞争的球员相比，一些海外的年轻球员可能会错过掌握比赛基本功的机会。这个问题类似于NCAA无法让年轻球员为NBA的职业期望做好准备。

文班的独特旅程

文班亚马的NBA之旅证明了他早期天赋的认可和个人决心的独特融合。13岁时身高就达到7英尺的他很难被忽视。15岁时，他考虑过搬到西班牙，但他选择留在南特，因为他重视与教练的密切关系，以及在传统中锋之外自由发展多方面技能的自由。法国国家球探系统支持他的成长，让他加入U16和U19国家队参加国际比赛，即使他比队友小一两岁。在南特的职业队进行的早期训练和比赛，与30年前安托万·里戈多在肖莱的道路如出一辙。

文班亚马在ASVEL继续发展，目标是征战欧洲联赛。然而，不同的执教风格导致他加入了大都会92队，在那里，整支球队都致力于培养这位法国的头号新星。在主教练文森特·科莱(Vincent Collet)的带领下，文班亚马展示了他的才华，包括在拉斯维加斯对阵G联赛点燃队的比赛中令人印象深刻的表现。在统治了法国LNB联赛后，他成为了第一个以NBA选秀状元身份被选中的法国球员。这条道路是共同努力的结果，法国篮球联合会渴望最大限度地发挥他的潜力，尤其是在巴黎奥运会即将到来之际。

然而，这就是篮球的魅力所在：没有一条道路能保证成功。无论球员是遵循传统路线，打破常规，还是开辟自己的旅程，法国篮球的未来都是光明的。这项运动的全球影响力，由像文班这样的球星推动，连接着各个社群，激励着下一代，并提醒我们所有人，这项运动超越了国界。

点击查看原文：Victor Wembanyama in Paris: The face of French basketball

Victor Wembanyama in Paris: The face of French basketball

Wemby is the tip of the iceberg for French basketball

The San Antonio Spurs are in Paris for two NBA regular-season games against the Indiana Pacers, marking a homecoming of sorts for French phenom Victor Wembanyama. As Wemby himself recently shared, he never imagined he’d have the chance to play an NBA game in his hometown so early in his career. It’s clear that the league is eager to showcase his global appeal, but this event is about more than just one star — it highlights a broader movement: the rise of French basketball and the incredible talent pipeline producing back-to-back No. 1 NBA draft picks, with Wembanyama in 2023 and Zaccharie Risacher in 2024.

For Victor, this trip is also a moment to reflect on his roots. Paris, the host city for the 2024 Olympics, where he earned a silver medal against Team USA, a memory that ties into the bigger story of French basketball’s remarkable ascent.

France in the late 80s early 90s: another world

The roots of this journey stretch back to the early ’90s. In May 1993, the French National League (LNB) held its All-Star Game in Évreux, a town just west of Paris. That year, I had the chance to meet an 18-year-old Olivier Saint-Jean and his mother. Olivier was a rising star in French basketball and a local talent from Évreux, which made the event even more special. Like Victor, Olivier hailed from the suburbs of Paris, born in Versailles, not far from Vic’s birthplace in Le Chesnay.

Back then, France’s basketball talent development system was evolving. INSEP (the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance) existed but wasn’t yet the powerhouse it is today. Instead, many young players like me climbed the ranks from regional variety teams, through U15 - U19 national teams to Espoirs teams—U22 squads affiliated with pro clubs. These teams provided a critical path to playing professionally, blending youth development with opportunities to train alongside seasoned players. Clubs like Élan Béarnais Orthez, ASVEL, and Cholet were particularly renowned for nurturing young talent, with players like Antoine Rigaudeau showing the way.

Photo by MEHDI FEDOUACH/AFP via Getty Images

Tariq Abul Wahad: the trailblazer

But in 1993, Olivier took a different route, breaking tradition by choosing to play college basketball in the United States at the University of Michigan. At the time, it was almost unthinkable—a young French player turning down the proven path in France to take a chance with the NCAA. Especially the Wolverines, only 2 years removed from a Champioship game with their Fab Five! Yet, Olivier thrived, eventually transferring to San Jose State, where he became a star and was drafted 11th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 1997, yes Timmy’s year. By then Olivier had converted to Islam, and as Tariq Abdul-Wahad, he became the first French player to compete in the NBA.

This pivotal moment highlighted the need for change in France’s development model. The French Basketball Federation recognized the risk of losing its brightest prospects to international opportunities, and specifically the NCAA. INSEP responded by enhancing its programs, giving young players more chances to compete against experienced pros, with the U17 INSEP team, as well as a bridge back to pro clubs for the best talents. This evolution helped produce a golden generation of players, including Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, and Rony Turiaf, whose journey began at INSEP before they achieved global success in the NBA and with the French National Team.

Back in those days, information was scarce. With no internet, young basketball fans like myself relied on MaxiBasket our monthly magazine and Canal+ NBA TV coverage to stay informed. I still remember the posters of my favorite players—David Robinson was my hero, even amid the Bulls’ Michael Jordan-dominated era.

New media, new paths

Fast forward to today, and the basketball landscape has transformed. Social media, YouTube, and smartphones have revolutionized scouting, bringing opportunities—and challenges—for young players. Talented prospects are identified earlier than ever, and many now choose to develop their skills abroad. Players like Sidy Cissoko (who moved to Baskonia in Spain at just 13!) and Alex Sarr (who joined Real Madrid’s youth team at 14) are blazing new trails, embracing global experiences and adapting to life away from home.

While these paths offer invaluable personal growth and exposure, they also highlight a trade-off. Compared to players who stay in France, progress through INSEP, and compete against professionals in the LNB, some overseas prospects may miss out on mastering the fundamentals of the game. An issue similar to the NCAA’s inability to prepare young players for the rigor of the NBA professional expectations.

Victor’s unique journey

Victor Wembanyama’s journey to the NBA is a testament to his unique blend of early talent recognition and personal determination. Standing at 7 feet tall by age 13, he was hard to overlook. At 15, he considered moving to Spain but chose to stay with Nanterre, valuing his close relationship with his coach and the freedom to develop his versatile skills beyond a traditional center. The French National scouting system supported his growth, enrolling him in U16 and U19 teams for international competitions, even when he was one year or two years younger than his teammates. Training and playing with Nanterre’s pro team at a young age mirrored the path of Antoine Rigaudeau 30 years prior with Cholet.

Wembanyama’s development continued with ASVEL, aiming to play in the Euroleague. However, differing coaching styles led him to Metropolitans 92, where an entire team was organized to nurture France’s top prospect. Under head coach Vincent Collet, Wembanyama showcased his talents, including impressive performances against the G League Ignite in Las Vegas. Dominating the French LNB League, he became the first French player to be selected as the number one NBA draft pick. This path was a collaborative effort, with the French basketball federation keen on maximizing his potential, especially with the Paris Olympics on the horizon.

Still, this is the beauty of basketball: no single path guarantees success. Whether players follow a traditional route, break the mold, or carve their own journey, the future is bright for French basketball. The sport’s global reach, driven by stars like Wemby, connects communities, inspires the next generation, and reminds us all that the game transcends borders.

By Pedro_Orthez, via Pounding The Rock