For some, it was their first time abroad. Plane, hotel, teams from the four corners of the world… “ Like real professionals, 'real' players » in short, formulates Miloud Si Arab, captain of the French 2K Team, adding: “ It was all new to us, it's quite impressive. The Americans are used to this kind of competition. »
Originally, 61 teams were competing, a record, with continental qualifying sessions in seven zones, major world finals in Sweden last November…
This system, which looks like a “classic” World Cup, also supported by FIBA, has a name: eFIBA (of which this was the second season). Or the e-sport counterpart of international competitions.
And the tricolors, despite the pressure of this big meeting, a LAN (face-to-face) competition rarely seen on such a scale, did not miss out: a journey to the final, lost to the “Dream Team” American made up of the best players from the NBA 2K League. What obtain the congratulations of Jean-Pierre Siutat in person : ” This unique experience allows us to position France on the growing international e-sports scene. »
Understanding this social phenomenon
The president of the French Federation saw this as a new return on the investment made by the basketball institution. Back in 2020, when the FFBB took up the subject by creating its brand (FFBB Esports), in the middle of the Covid epidemic, at a time when all amateur basketball was shut down. “ A lot of clubs have set up 2K tournaments », remembers Mathieu Chamiot, responsible for innovation missions at the Federation, contacted by BasketUSA.
The Fédé, whose core business is to organize physical competitions on the ground, goes beyond its framework and seeks to understand this “ Societal phenomenon “, “ grasp what is happening in the territory to succeed in 'structuring' it “… Although ” very divided » in the eyes of the FFBB, the NBA 2K scene is already active in France, through HallofGame notably.
A first national team is set up and sends a “ signal to 2K scene » with a semi-final during the FIBA Esport Open 3, followed by a European final in the first eFIBA season (buzzer defeat against the Turkish rival). FIBA then decides to organize a competition of another scale, the one mentioned above. France, to do well, must renew itself. Because certain players, previously mobilized, “ do not continue the adventure, because they need paid activities », reports Mathieu Chamiot.
What about remuneration?
Remuneration remains one of the challenges in developing the practice. While another member of the French team, Yacine Jemel, the first Frenchman “drafted” in the NBA 2K League, is paid within the very powerful American league, affiliated with the NBA, the reality on the Old Continent is all other. Affiliated with the F9 Hetic e-sport team based in MontreuilMiloud Si Arab (alias MiiLsO), for example, does not receive a salary.
When he played at LDLC OL, linked to Olympique Lyonnais, the thirty-year-old played under the status of “ semi-professional “. “ We still worked nearby », reports the former plumber, NBA fan, who was not at all involved in “real” basketball. He says he was able to imagine a professional future with the Lyon structure. But the adventure came to an abrupt end in the summer of 2023, the historic e-sport club having ceased its activities.
The captain of the national team, who had more of a coaching role in Sweden, adds: “ If I have the chance (to be pro), it would be with pleasure. But it seems really complicated to me… » Former player in several structures including Nanterre Gaming, Maxime Lecat took over the reins of the French 2K Team for this second eFIBA season. Aged 29, this school teacher based in Paris does not have a contract with the Federation.
“ Even if in the long term, it's something she would like to put in place, to professionalize the scene and bridge the gap between basketball and 2K so that guys are interested in the sport. And show that on 2K, we do great things », blurts the coach who is not “ shocked » and, on the contrary, finds “ cool » that video game fans discover basketball via 2K.
After the Swedish finals, his players were able to leave with a little something. The competition's cash prize was €50,000. Thanks to its second place, France left with just over €12,000, a sum which was distributed among all participants. Which is always a problem for them, while according to Mathieu Chamiot, the Federation has a budget of “ a few tens of thousands of euros » for the e-sport component, to support in particular the finals of the French championship. A trifle on the scale of the overall budget (37 million euros for the 2019/20 season).
Support from Sylvain Francisco
These financial issues did not prevent Maxime Lecat and his men from trying “ to be professional » in their preparation for the competition. Lots of video sessions, observation of player trends…
Youth coach at regional level, in the “real” world, Maxime Lecat had even prepared “short charts” of the players faced. He adds : ” There is no physical preparation, but it is mental, the approach of a match evening, how to manage our frustration… »
A bit like the “classic” French team ultimately. Moreover, the players were received at the headquarters of the FFBB, which has just launched a study to analyze the practices of basketball fans and video game fans, before going to Sweden. Everyone had to sign the equivalent of an ethics charter. Another symbolic “bridge” existing between the two worlds, French fullback Sylvain Francisco had a word of support for e-sport players.
The following ?
And then ” when we end up in the finale with the anthem, it always does something. It may only be e-sport, but it makes a lot of people proud », formulates Maxime Lecat. The fact remains that despite the development of e-sport, the protagonists interviewed have difficulty planning for the years to come.
“ It's going so fast… We're still dependent on what the game publisher can allow. If tomorrow 2K tells us 'It's over', we will have no choice but to accept », re-situates the coach, according to whom the current dynamism of the scene represents “ a drop of water in the drop of water » for the ultra-powerful NBA.
“ We are dependent on an American publisher who cares about his product. We work with them on certain aspects to highlight the Federation. But we don't know what line the publisher will take to develop, if the Feds can market something. There are international competitions, we participate in them in the best possible way. Despite everything, we manage to perform well. And we structure as much as we can », concludes Mathieu Chamiot.
