If we had to find the player who best defines the word “warrior”, Florent Piétrus would be a very solid choice. But at 39, the native of Abymes, in Guadeloupe, decided to turn the page of a great professional career.
Always passionate, he does not leave the basketball world since he will join Metz, in the French fourth division.
“A weariness was gradually setting in. The urge was no longer the same, even if the passion remained intact. I knew it was time. But I wanted to end by playing. I trained alone from August to January. Finally, I tell my agent that I am quitting. When the next day, I receive the offer from Orleans. This allowed me to do one last lap. I had a blast, even though the pandemic interrupted the season. It wouldn’t have changed anything. I knew it was over. I will miss the game, the competition, but I am happy and at peace with my decision ” he explains to L’Equipe, his decision being taken a long time ago.
Less gifted than his brother Mickaël, Florent Piétrus, for his part, built up thanks to his defense and his energy under the panels. Yet not very tall (2m02), he was always ready to go into battle, and what better illustration than his fight against Marc Gasol, in the semi-final won against Spain at Euro 2013.
French champion (2001, 2003 and 2004) with Pau-Orthez and Spanish champion (2006) with Malaga, Florent Piétrus had also won the EuroCoupe (2010) with Valence.
With the Blues, he accompanied the Parker / Diaw generation in all their battles, winning the gold medal at Euro 2013 as well as the silver medal at Euro 2011 and the bronze medal at Euro 2005 and 2015, as well as at the 2014 World Cup. His career with the French team ended with that of Tony Parker and Mickaël Gelabale, during the Olympic Games in Rio, in 2016, with the fourth total of selections (230) from history.
In 2009, Florent Piétrus impressed Larry Brown, then adviser to the Blues, who inquired about his contractual situation. In the end, it didn’t lead to anything, the strong winger still explaining that not having played in the NBA “Remains the only disappointment of (his) career”, in his autobiography, “I have never been small”.
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