Olympic vice-champion with the Blues this summer, the 37-year-old Frenchman is ending his career with the French team. After 208 selections in the tricolor jersey, the leader gives way to a new generation.
Published
Updated
Reading time: 1 min
:quality(50)/2024/09/27/066-dppi-21024007-583-66f6dd96b1672338418628.jpg)
A new big name in French basketball bows out with the Blues. Following the departure of Vincent Collet at the head of the French team and the official announcement of the international retirement of Nicolas Batum, Nando de Colo in turn announced his departure from the French basketball team, Friday 27 september. The Asvel player has chosen to turn the page with his selection after more than 16 years of shared history and numerous international medals.
The leader-back of the France team from 2008 to 2024 formalized his withdrawal on his social networks. “You are, one day, selected for the French team, you wear this blue jersey that makes you dream so much and you only want one thing: for it to be a success so that the day the adventure ends, you can say that you were there and that your mark will remain forever in the history of this team. My adventure in Blue was not easy, but if I had to do it again, I would do it with my eyes closed“, communicated the player with 208 caps.
Major player in the most sumptuous period of the French team, with the title of European champion in 2013, the bronze medal at the 2019 World Cup, acquired by being the best scorer of the meeting, and both finals of the Olympic Games (2020 and 2024), Nando de Colo was one of Vincent Collet’s strong men alongside Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, and Rudy Gobert. Now it’s time for a new generation of French basketball.