Gaming News

Victor Wembanyama: NBA vs. FIBA Basketball - A Return to France

August 4, 2026Carlos Mendoza1 мин

The upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 qualifiers, scheduled from August 24th to September 1st, will see Victor Wembanyama return to the French national team after a two-year hiatus. His last appearance for France was in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games final, a loss to the United States. Since then, Wemby has been dedicated to his NBA career, missing the 2025 EuroBasket. However, he is set to rejoin the team for two upcoming matches against Slovenia (August 27th) and Sweden (August 30th), and is also expected to participate in two friendly games against Serbia on August 20th and 23rd.

Speaking to the press during a basketball court renovation in Nanterre, Wembanyama admitted to missing playing for France. "When I come back here, it feels really good. I don't miss the NBA right now, but I do miss FIBA basketball," the 22-year-old star stated. This sentiment comes after a challenging period for his NBA team, the San Antonio Spurs, who were defeated in the NBA Finals by the New York Knicks, despite entering as favorites.

"It's sometimes hard to stay in touch with France every day when you're far away for so many months on the other side of the Atlantic. But coming back here, there's nothing simpler because these are people I know, people I trust," Wemby shared. He added, "I've been surrounded by almost exclusively good people, growing up in Nanterre and in France in general."