Exemplary captain during the two confrontations against Lithuania, with his constant activity in defense, underlined by Vincent Collet who was impressed by his eight ” deflections“, Nicholas Batum is undoubtedly one of the major reasons for the current good form of the Blues.
Still undefeated in preparation, the French team will be able to count on their veteran winger to fill the gaps, and why not bring us a legendary action, like this famous counter on Klemen Prepelic who propelled the Blues to the Olympic final there is two years…
“The DNA of this team is above all defensive”
Nicolas, you have just won a fifth victory in five warm-up matches, did you like the way in this success which was more difficult to take shape on the outside?
“With the years in the French team, I learned that victories are not really what counts in preparation. It is of course, but what matters is above all the way we play, the way we prepare, and the way we evolve. So far, things are going very well. The adversity mounted gradually but we always responded. We corrected what we had to correct. Overall good. The cohesion is there, the rhythm is gradually returning, the defensive collective is more and more in place, except for the defensive rebound which must conclude these good sequences, as I explain at the end of each match. We want to move the ball well and find the best offensive solution, not necessarily our own. »
We have seen you vary a lot in defense, offering different systems to disrupt the opponent, how do you assess the progress of the team from this point of view?
“We are a defensive team, a team that was set up for that. We have a lot of guys who have this mission, and the ability to defend well, in several situations, in several positions, and in hot moments. We have guys like Yakuba Ouattara who are specialists, and we have, for me, one of the best defenders, if not the best, with Rudy [Gobert]. When you have a player like that, you have to know how to defend around him, and not just put everything on his shoulders. Rudy, just in case! After, in attack, we will see because we have many options, but we know that the DNA of this team is above all defensive. »
“There is no ego”
Vincent Collet gave the podium as an objective, but as a player, we imagine that you are even more ambitious, as the video series produced by the federation entitled “gold diggers” suggests…
“That’s our goal but we know that where we want to go, there are a lot of teams that want to go there too. It’s going to be a big fight! We are in the process of setting up well. The bench, the whole team, reacts to actions. There is no ego. We share the ball well. In defense, we communicate well. We say things too! Sometimes a little virulently, but it’s nothing personal. We want to advance the team. It is with this mentality that we can go far. »
Did the fact of having been absent last summer make you think about the solutions that you and Nando De Colo can bring to make the attacking game as fluid as we could see in sequences during warm-up matches?
“Last year, I stayed in constant contact with Evan, Rudy and Vincent. We have always been in communication. They still made it to the final! We sometimes have the impression that they were taken out in the quarters! We knew that with Nando’s return and mine, some things were going to change. We can bring fluidity to the game, which can allow others to shine more. We are no longer the same players, we no longer have the same legs, we no longer have the same role, we no longer have the same abilities [physiques] to do what we did before, but we can create continuity with what has already been done in the last three competitions. Because we are still the only nation in the world to win medals in the last three competitions. It’s up to us to continue this series as well as possible! »
The preparation is rather very satisfactory but, with your background and your experience, do you believe that the team is in tune with the seriousness and application necessary to go to the end?
“French basketball sometimes needs a big kick in the ass to wake up. This had been the case in 2007. Then in 2017 too. We went forward each time. Since 2019, we know how to make shortened and truncated preparations, as we did before the Olympics with Rudy and I who arrived late after the playoffs [NBA]. We know that every workout, every exercise counts. We can’t waste a session, we can’t afford it. The concentration is at the maximum, we must continue like this. »
“There will be many disappointed! »
According to Lithuanian coach Kazys Maksvytis, France are among the favorites for the World Cup, what is your opinion on the matter? Were you able to follow the results of your direct opponents, namely Canada, Latvia or even Spain?
“I looked at yesterday’s summary [entre l’Espagne et la Slovénie]. I saw Canada against Germany, quickly done. We know the teams, there are about ten who can claim the podium! There will be many disappointed! Some big teams won’t even make it through the first round. On our side [du tableau]there is already a [potentiel médaillable] who will jump! It shows the level and it shows that we will have to be ready. Just because we’ve won seven medals in the last ten years doesn’t mean it’s going to happen again this summer! It’s gonna be tough every time, and that was our first message to the band with Nando. »
“Tony is quite simply the best European leader in history”
You are going to return to Tokyo to face Japan, we imagine that it will bring back good memories…
“Yes, well the last time we played Japan in Tokyo, we took twenty [rires] ! But, yes, the last time we went to Tokyo, we left with a nice medal. [d’argent] and it was a great time. It’s different this time, without the Covid, because we’ll be able to go out a bit. It’s going to be a good cohesion camp for the group too. »
Finally, we can not help asking you what you think of the induction of your friend, and collaborator at Asvel, Tony Parker in the Hall of Fame this night, what feelings dominate in you?
“It’s the ultimate honor frankly, and it’s deserved. He is simply the best European leader in history. In his position, there was no better. He is the best French player in history. For me it was a scandal that he was not in the Top 75 [de la NBA]. He has his place in the Top 15 of the best point guards in history. What he did, as a European, in the 2000s, to establish himself in a dynasty, and to stay there, is extraordinary. Especially in this position! There have been quite a few interiors [européens] who have succeeded [en NBA] : Dirk, Pau, Giannis, Jokic, Victor arriving. But behind, it’s the only one! It is well deserved. I’ll follow this, even if it’s at three o’clock [du matin], you have to! »
Interview in Rueil-Malmaison
