Who knew France was a basketball mecca!?

[FinnGopher]

In the NBA draft there were four players from France drafted in the first round with the #1 and #2 pick being from France.

The whole idea that the US is the mecca of basketball is being destroyed by the NBA draft.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Someone during ESPN mentioned that Tony Parker is doing a lot of work with setting up academies there.

Additionally, it was mentioned that in all EU countries, basically the big men do the same drills as guards/wings, so they develop more rounded ballers, vs. US model where guards and bigs work independently on “their skills.”

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Two of the top 7 last year were French. There's more French players in the NBA than you probably realize.

 

[BTChamp]

One thing that always cracked me up.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

Someone during ESPN mentioned that Tony Parker is doing a lot of work with setting up academies there.

Additionally, it was mentioned that in all EU countries, basically the big men do the same drills as guards/wings, so they develop more rounded ballers, vs. US model where guards and bigs work independently on “their skills.”

It's like France is a big believer in what I call Total Basketball. Much like Total Football, it is almost a positionless game.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

This should probably be in “Useless Stuff You Should Know”
The Lakers drafted center Jean Claude Lefebvre of France in 1960 with the 64th pick. (However never played in the NBA. We need Sid for more info.)