Frédéric Fauthoux: “I don’t want Victor to change his nature”
Unlike last summer, when France went out in the round of 16 at EuroBasket 2025, coach Frédéric Fauthoux has a squad of a completely different calibre for this international window. Wembanyama is of course back after the Paris 2024 Olympics, but Gobert and Evan Fournier are also present, both coming off excellent 2025-26 seasons. Senior players who don’t hesitate to support the French star in his new role.
“Victor is for now a captain, above all through what he represents, which is very important for the team. Then, today, in the group, he’s also very well surrounded by players like Rudy (Gobert), Evan (Fournier) and Tim (Luwawu-Cabarrot), who have a lot of experience, and I know they talk a lot among themselves,” said coach Frédéric Fauthoux.
“For now, I don’t want Victor to change his nature because he’s captain. There are so many ways to be captain of a group but first of all he has to be himself.”
For the first time since taking charge of the France team, Fauthoux has the chance to coach and spend time with Wembanyama. Impressed by his young leader, he doesn’t hesitate to compare him to another Les Bleus legend for his attachment to the national jersey.
“Having played with Tony Parker, I knew his mentality very well when it came to joining the France team… and honestly, they have the same commitment to coming back every time they can. It’s true that the times Victor couldn’t come, it’s because he really couldn’t. He was genuinely disappointed, but he has an incredible enthusiasm at the idea of coming back to wear this France jersey.”
By installing Wembanyama as captain this summer, two years out from LA28, the France coach is laying the foundations of his team and his principles for the years to come.
“It’s important because you need a base to build a team,” he answered to a question from Olympics.com at the press conference.
“If we amuse ourselves by changing 80 per cent of the players at every gathering, it’s complicated to then rebuild a group. Unfortunately, for now, that’s what happens every time. It’s also a commitment from the players to answer the call-ups, to create a base and keep leaders in place over a long period.”