Mathias Lessort still very motivated for EuroBasket: « I’ll do everything to be there »
June 16, 2025
Rayane Poisson
Rudy Gobert withdraws from EuroBasket 2025: a turning point for Team France?
French National Team - Rudy Gobert will not participate in EuroBasket 2025, according to L'Équipe. The Minnesota Timberwolves center, a regular in international campaigns with Les Bleus, will miss a major competition for the second time. His withdrawal reshuffles the cards at the center position for Frédéric Fauthoux.
Photo Credit : Guillaume Poumarede
Rudy Gobert (7’1″, 32) will not play in EuroBasket 2025 with Team France, according to L’Équipe. A rare absence for the Picardy native, who had always answered the national team’s call until now, except for the 2017 edition. This withdrawal could deprive the two-time Olympic medalist of his last real chance to win gold with Les Bleus, as competition at the center position intensifies and he turns 33 this Thursday, June 26.
An extensive medal collection, but no gold
Since his debut with Team France, Rudy Gobert has experienced everything… except gold. A three-time bronze medalist (2014 and 2019 World Cup, EuroBasket 2015), three-time silver medalist (2021 and 2024 Olympics, Euro 2022), the Minnesota Timberwolves center was relegated to a secondary role during the 2024 Olympics due to a finger injury and Victor Wembanyama’s rise to prominence at the center position.
In 2025, the French team will have to do without him. The news, revealed by L’Équipe, confirms the Picardy native’s absence for the EuroBasket jointly organized in Latvia, Finland, Poland and Cyprus. This is only the second international competition he will miss, after Euro 2017.
INFO L’ÉQUIPE: Rudy Gobert will not participate in the next European Championship with Team France.
More info ➡️ https://t.co/WUypiBbUkp pic.twitter.com/8ii24qdhOZ
— L’Équipe (@lequipe) June 21, 2025
Succession is already underway
Rudy Gobert’s withdrawal comes at a particular time. Victor Wembanyama, suffering from thrombosis, hasn’t indicated if he’ll be available. Mathias Lessort, another natural candidate for the center position, has been long sidelined with a fibula fracture. Frédéric Fauthoux, France’s head coach, has postponed the announcement of his pre-selection from Wednesday, June 25 to Friday, June 27, indicating uncertainty remains about the frontcourt situation.
However, alternatives exist: Vincent Poirier, impressive with Anadolu Efes Istanbul at the end of the EuroLeague season, could return to the squad. Alexandre Sarr hopes to make his senior national team debut. Mouhammadou Jaiteh, valuable in Monaco’s paint, remains a credible option. And behind them, a generation is emerging, with Moussa Diabaté (Charlotte, NBA), Neal Sako (ASVEL), Bodian Massa (Manresa), and Maxime Raynaud, future NBA draftee from Stanford.
The post-Gobert era is already being written
At 35 in 2027, Rudy Gobert could still consider participating in the World Cup in Qatar. But in 2026, no official competition is scheduled. EuroBasket 2025 might therefore have been his last real chance to aim for gold with Les Bleus. A milestone has been reached in the generational transition of the French team, and responsibilities are about to change hands.
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