The decision was made at lunchtime. At 12:20 p.m., the French Basketball Federation announced in a press release – and on social media – that Nicolas Batum “will not participate in the match against Canada.” A preparation match 8 days before the start of the Paris Games and a summit duel between two of the candidates for the podium for the Olympic Games, which will be held in the Co’Met in Orléans at 9:10 p.m.
“Victim of a viral syndrome”, to use the words of the Federation, at the beginning of the week, the captain of the Blues did not join his partners in Orléans on Tuesday nor take part in the scrimmage (training match) scheduled for Wednesday against Canada.
“We’re managing it day by day,” coach Vincent Collet said after training on Wednesday morning. “We’re being vigilant. Nicolas warned us on Monday that he had this little problem. The break (of 3 days after the 67-79 defeat against Serbia on Friday) allowed us to be flexible. Rather than come back and risk contaminating others, we told him to stay calm, and that we weren’t going to worry about a day. We hope he’ll be here tonight (Wednesday) or tomorrow. It’s not a big deal, so that should be the case. I hope he’ll play on Friday.”
Having remained in Paris, where he was one of the last bearers of the Olympic flame on July 14 in the streets of the capital, Nicolas Batum would have, according to the press release, joined his partners in Orléans but the staff preferred to spare him for the duel against Canada.
The winger is not the first player in the team to be affected by a “viral syndrome”. Victor Wembanyama had in fact had to withdraw from the 3rd, on July 8 in Montpellier, against Germany. He was able to return for the big evening dedicated to the retirement of Tony Parker’s number 9 jersey and play the match against Serbia on July 12.
While waiting for Nicolas Batum to return, the French staff announced that center Jaylen Hoard, a training partner during the preparation, “will remain with the group until Sunday” and the last preparation match for the Games scheduled against Australia.
