Highlights from Nicolas Lang’s podcast with Vincent Collet: confessions, regrets and lessons from a French basketball master

Vincent Collet, iconic coach of the French national team (2009-2024), spoke at length in the podcast Mauvaise Lang, hosted by Limoges CSP captain Nicolas Lang.

For over two hours, he looked back on the major moments of his career: from his coaching beginnings in Le Mans to the Olympic medal in Paris, through Strasbourg, Tony Parker, Victor Wembanyama and even his NBA stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2024-2025. Between confessions, regrets and major management lessons, the French coach delivered a rich and fascinating testimony.

Early beginnings and a natural calling

Originally from Montivilliers, Vincent Collet grew up in a basketball-immersed family. « I fell into it at age 6… Basketball, I feel like I was born with it, » he says. As a player who was « skilled but without athletic qualities, » he thought very early about his future coaching career, even though he remained a professional player until age 35. « I had notebooks where I wrote down what my coaches made me do, » he recalls.

In Le Mans, where he started coaching, he dared to give young players a chance (Alain Koffi, Nicolas Batum, Pape Philippe Amagou) and built his coaching identity. The 2006 title remains a founding memory: « We were fifth in the regular season and in playoffs everything changed when I put the young guys in the starting five. After that, it carried us to the title. »

Tony Parker, the French national team and the 2011 turning point

When he took over the French team in 2009, Vincent Collet knew his relationship with Tony Parker would be crucial. From their first discussion, he set the tone: « You’re a great player, but a truly great player is one who makes others better. » This standard became a guiding principle.

Euro 2011 marked a turning point for him: « After that Euro, the team culture was different. We always wanted to play for medals. » With Parker, Batum, Diaw and Pietrus, the French team established itself among the great nations.

Strasbourg: a mixed legacy

At SIG, Vincent Collet shaped a competitive team with a true playing identity. But he remains haunted by the five lost finals: « It’s the black mark of my tenure. Even though we built a strong identity, people remember that. » The 2017 final against Chalon remains his biggest regret: « We had an 8-point lead in game 3, and everything collapsed on incredible shots. »

These failures nevertheless helped him improve. He now acknowledges that he could have « better put players in favorable situations, » showing the humility that characterizes his discourse.

Missed opportunities abroad

In this podcast, Vincent Collet doesn’t hide certain career regrets. In 2014, he turned down Olympiacos: « I thought another opportunity would come. Clearly a mistake. » Two years later, he was very close to signing with Hapoel Jerusalem three days after leaving SIG, but backed out at the last moment: « I absolutely wanted to bring my assistant (Pierre Tavano). They didn’t want that, so I refused. »

He also confides that he would have liked to try an adventure in Spain, which he considers « the league with the richest collective play. » But these opportunities never came back.

Wembanyama and rebirth at Mets 92

In 2022, while considering leaving the Metropolitans, Vincent Collet received a call that changed everything: from Victor Wembanyama. « I was about to quit. Then Victor and his agent (Bouna Ndiaye) called me. You can’t refuse that. »

He recalls the prodigy’s complicated beginnings: « His first game, he took 28 shots, half of them reckless… With another player I would have forbidden it. But there, I held back to preserve his creativity. » A decision that summarizes his philosophy: guide without stifling.

Very quickly, Wembanyama imposed his defensive dominance. « His greatest dominance was on defense. He transformed a decent team into a machine, » notes Vincent Collet admiringly.

Paris 2024: the pinnacle

With the Paris Olympics, Collet experienced what he calls « the competition of a lifetime. » Before the quarter-final against Canada, he told his players: « You don’t have a date with your image, you have a date with yourselves. »

Victory came through heroic defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. « Nicolas Batum played incredible defense… Without it, he would have scored 50, » insists the coach, who also praises Isaïa Cordinier’s decisive contribution.

In the final, France lost to the United States, led by an unstoppable Stephen Curry: « We trapped him, he released the ball… it came back to him. With Batum in front of him, I don’t even know if he could see the basket. He scored anyway. That’s true greatness. » A surreal moment, but also a frustration: « We got carried away after a good start (to the game). »

Selection thought of as a team

Vincent Collet also detailed his selection method: « We don’t take the 12 best players, we take a team. » For him, cohesion is essential: « Without it, you achieve nothing. »

In an era where France accumulates high draft picks, he also reminds that the Draft isn’t everything: « Being drafted doesn’t make you better than the week before. » And cites the example of Matthew Strazel, who wasn’t drafted: « His ability to come off the bench at 200% was rare. »

Management and the NBA parenthesis

Over time, Collet has evolved his management approach. « I regret not having worked earlier with a mental coach. Understanding yourself better changes a lot. »

His experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers also opened his eyes: « Their preparation is impressive, especially individual work. But the lack of team practices is a real problem for young players. »

A passionate coach, between discipline and creativity

In his words, one obsession constantly returns: helping his players improve. He notes an essential element in modern basketball: « Today, reading the game is crucial… Before, you could read the newspaper before shooting. Those days are over. »

His credo remains balancing discipline and freedom, as he did with Wembanyama: « I wanted to preserve his creativity, even if it was sometimes hard to accept. » A less vertical method than in his early days that he would like to implement again at club level, ideally in a European project, as he still dreams of leading a EuroLeague team.