The “Prince of Paname” is back. A year after splashing the All Star Game of the Basketball League with his talent – 44 points (Antoine Rigaudeau’s record equaled) and numerous spectacular actions – Nadir Hifi will once again be present during the traditional and annual all-star game which will be held at the Accor Arena on Sunday December 29. An appointment that is always full. The French international from Paris Basketball did not even need to be selected by a jury of experts to win his ticket since he was selected by the public.
Until November 26, fans had the opportunity to vote for two players who would join the Five All Star France and the Five All Star World. “After more than a month and nearly 10,000 votes, the public All Stars went to Parisians Nadir Hifi and TJ Shorts (his partner from Paris Basketball and already selected last year) elected with 1946 votes and 1926 votes respectively” indicates the Basketball League in a press release.
In addition to the two Parisian “Little big men” (1.75 m for Shorts, 1.84 m for Hifi), three other representatives of the capital club will be present at the All Star Game. Landed on the club’s bench with the heavy responsibility of succeeding Tuomas IIsalo, the Brazilian Tiago Splitter will be the coach of the French selection thanks to 2nd place in the Betclic Elite PBB rankings.
The other Parisians present are the American wingers Tyson Ward, already selected last year, and Collin Malcolm who will be replacements for the “All Stars World” team. Nanterre interior Desi Rodriguez was also selected for the all-star match for the third time in three editions.
Four months after the Paris Games, Matthew Strazel (Monaco) and newly retired international Nando De Colo (Asvel), silver medalists at the Olympics, will return to the Parisian venue, scene of the epic final against the United States.
Note that five players from Monaco – the French Élie Okobo, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, the Americans Mike James (All Star MVP in 2023) and Alpha Diallo in addition to Strazel – and four from Asvel – Théo Maledon, Joffrey Lauvergne and American Andre Roberson in addition to De Colo – were selected.
The French neo-international and future NBA player – he is expected in the top 5 of the next draft – Nolan Traoré (18 years old) and Noah Penda (19 years old, U20 European champion last summer) will play their first match Stars.
The two friends Hifi and Shorts were also selected for the 3-point shooting competition for the first and the Skills Challenge (leader competition) for the second. The participants in the spectacular and anticipated dunk contest will be revealed at a later date.
The French selection
Starting five : Théo Maledon (Asvel), Nadir Hifi (Paris), Nicolas Lang (Limoges, cap.), Joffrey Lauvergne (Asvel), Bastien Vautier (Cholet). The replacements : Élie Okobo (Monaco), Nolan Traoré (Saint-Quentin), Noah Penda (Le Mans), Brice Dessert (Strasbourg), Matthew Strazel (Monaco), Nando De Colo (Asvel) and Mouhammadou Jaiteh (Monaco). The coaches : Tiago Splitter (BRE/Paris), assisted by Thomas Andrieux (Roanne).
The foreign selection
Starting five : TJ Shorts (USA/Paris, cap.), Mike James (USA/Monaco), Xavier Castaneda (USA/Bourg-en-Bresse), Andre Roberson (USA/Asvel), Shevon Thompson (JAM/Nancy). The replacements : David Holston (USA/Dijon), Desi Rodriguez (USA/Nanterre), Collin Malcolm (USA/Paris), Tyson Ward (USA/Paris), Jerome Robinson (USA/Saint-Quentin), TJ Campbell (USA/Cholet) et Alpha Diallo (USA/Monaco). The coaches : Fabrice Lefrançois (Cholet), assisted by David Morabito (Blois).
Those selected for the 3-point competition
Nadir Hifi (Paris), Nicolas Lang (Limoges), Enzo Goudou-Sinha (Saint-Quentin), Trevor Hudgins (Le Mans)
Those selected for the leadership competition
TJ Campbell (Cholet), Théo Maledon (ASVEL), Élie Okobo (Monaco), TJ Shorts (Paris)
