By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Rudy Gobert has decided to sit out the EuroBasket 2025, as reported by L’Equipe’s Yann Ohnona on Saturday.
After two straight runs with the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals, alongside last summer’s participation in the Paris Olympic Games 2024, the 32-year-old center, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is set to miss the next major international tournament on the schedule of France.
With Victor Wembanyama expected to be confirmed as out for this summer’s EuroBasket 2025 as well, selector Frederic Fauthoux will consider other options for the paint. The most likely replacements, including fellow NBA players Guerschon Yabusele and Alex Sarr, were recently placed in an extended roster of 58 players for Les Bleus.
During his long career with the senior national team of his country, Gobert captured silver medals in the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games, as well as another silver in the EuroBasket 2022. He also won bronze medals across the 2014 and 2019 editions of the FIBA World Cup and the 2015 EuroBasket. He was also named in the All-Tournament Teams of the Tokyo Olympics and EuroBasket 2022.
Following training camp and prep friendly games, France will compete in Group D of the preliminary round, taking on Belgium, Slovenia, Israel, Poland, and Iceland, between August 28 and September 4 in Katowice, Poland. The top four seeds will move from pool play to single-elimination contests, with the knockout stage of the EuroBasket to be played from September 6 to 14 in Riga, Latvia.
Photo Credit: FIBA