Killian Hayes visiting the country, Rudy Gobert’s Wolves are (a little) better and Evan Fournier is still waiting for his next destination: fourth point of the season for our French expatriates in the United States.
Every week, Basket Europe offers you a complete overview of the performance of our French nationals abroad. Each month, we also take stock with the main expatriates in the United States (NBA, G-League, NCAA).
Rudy Gobert and the Wolves have had a better run since the start of 2023. With 11 wins in 16 games this past month, Minnesota has re-entered the large peloton of teams fighting for a playoff ticket. Behind an Anthony Edwards in very good shape (27.3 points on average in January), the main source of the Wolves’ success, Rudy Gobert contributes to the defensive progress of Chris Finch’s pack (12th defensive rating with 113.3).
In addition, the pivot of the Blues offered us great performances in double-doubles, including 25 points and 21 rebounds at the start of the month in a victory against the Clippers of Nicolas Batum. Even more recently, he came out of two performances with more than 13 points and 14 rebounds against the magnificent Sacramento Kings.
Evan Fournier’s season is getting a little more complicated and should not go any better in the coming weeks, despite the imminent arrival of the trade deadline on February 9. The captain of the France team had returned to the rotation of Tom Thibodeau last month, chaining six consecutive meetings not without difficulty. And since January 11, he deplores only one disputed match.
The one who was a dad for the second time a few days ago, however, should stay until this summer in New York. With his contract at $ 18 million per season ($ 37 million between 2022-24), the Knicks preferred to keep Evan Fournier in a transfer on a larger scale in the offseason. If this is the case, Vavan could be put to use in a workforce in the race for the playoffs, just to gain value before a summer departure.
Killian Hayes, a Paris gone wrong?
Killian Hayes was on everyone’s lips in January. After a good end to 2022, the Pistons leader confirmed his rise to power, without however winning his team, still the NBA’s red lantern. Back in France during the NBA Paris Game, he was the star of a grand event for the internationalization of the NBA and the popularization of basketball in France. On the floor of the Accor Arena, the meeting was more complicated for Hayes with 4 small points, as many lost balls and a defeat against the Bulls. Too bad for this time, the season is not over for the Frenchie.
But since the trip to Paris, his coach Dwane Casey puts him to the test. Indisputable holder since Cade Cunningham’s injury, Killian Hayes has seen himself start a few matches on the bench and reduce his playing time. The 7th choice of the 2020 Draft sees big in the NBA. After the most tumultuous month of his young career, Killian Hayes is faced with his responsibilities. A nice challenge for him.
In G-League, the French formation shows a better face. Returned to the development league after 35 games with the Hornets, Théo Maledon shines in the Greensboro jersey. In a championship that pushes towards fast play, the Habs have a string of double-double performances with an average of 22.3 points per game. Adam Mokoka and Joël Ayayi are also progressing while Moussa Diabate (Clippers) and Ousmane Dieng (Thunder) invite themselves into the NBA rosters. The first city has also posted 13 points and 5 rebounds in a large defeat against the Cavaliers.
In an NBA season where the French are more struggling than in previous years, there is reason to rejoice in the generations that are coming. Patience.
The statistics of the French in the NBA
Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)
27 wins – 26 losses | 9th in the Western Conference
13.4 points on 67.7% on shots, 11.7 rebounds, 1.3 against, 1.8 loss of balls and 0.9 assists for 22.3 evaluation in 31 minutes (44 games)
Evan Fournier (New York Knicks)
27 wins – 24 losses | 7th in Eastern Conference
6.8 points on 34.8% on shots, 2.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.0 loss of balls for 5.7 rating in 19 minutes (20 games)
Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers)
28 wins – 25 losses | 4th in the Western Conference
6.2 points on 43.0% on shots, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 0.7 loss of balls for 9.4 rating in 21 minutes ( 50 matches)
Killian Hayes (Detroit Pistons)
13 wins – 39 losses | 15th in the Eastern Conference
9.8 points on 37.5% on shots, 6.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.9 loss of balls for 11.5 rating in 27 minutes (52 games)
Frank Ntilikina (Dallas Mavericks)
27 wins – 25 losses | 6th in the Western Conference
2.8 points at 36.5% on shots, 1.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 loss of balls for 2.9 evaluation in 13 minutes (30 matches)
Ousmane Dieng (Oklahoma City Thunder)
4.1 points on 43.5% on shots, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.3 interceptions, 0.3 against and 0.6 loss of balls for 5.8 evaluation in 15 minutes ( 16 games)
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia Sixers)
32 wins – 17 losses | 3rd in Eastern Conference
33.6 points on 53.5% shooting, 10.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.7 loss of balls, 1.2 interceptions and 1.7 against for 35.5 evaluation in 35 minutes ( 37 matches)
The statistics of the French in the G-League
Theo Maledon (Greensboro Swarm)
22.3 points on 47.0% on shots, 8.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 4.0 loss of balls for 25.3 rating in 36 minutes (6 games)
With the Charlotte Hornets:
5.5 points on 40.5% on shots, 2.5 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.0 loss of balls and 0.8 interceptions for 7.5 rating in 16 minutes (35 games)
Moussa Diabate (Ontario Clippers)
17.3 points on 58.5% on shots, 12.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.8 loss of balls for 25.3 evaluation in 32 minutes (18 games)
Joel Ayayi (Lakeland Magic)
9.0 points on 53.9% on shots, 5.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 loss of balls for 14.6 rating in 28 minutes (26 games)
Sidy Cissoko (G-League Ignite)
10.2 points on 43.8% on shots, 2.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.7 loss of balls and 1.0 blocks for 10.8 rating in 28 minutes ( 25 games)
Rescue Doumbouya (Delaware Blue Coast)
4.0 points on 38.2% on shots, 2.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.2 steals and 1.2 loss of balls for 4.1 rating in 14 minutes (14 games)
Adam Mokoka (Oklahoma City Blue)
12.2 points on 46.9% on shots, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.6 loss of balls for 14.0 evaluation in 30 minutes (24 games)
NCAA French stats
Joshua Mballa (Ore Miss)
3.9 points on 49% on shots, 2.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.4 steals and 1.0 loss of possession in 10 minutes (14 games)
Eddy Kayouloud (Central Arkansas)
13.2 points on 41.5% on shots, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.9 steals in 30 minutes (22 games)
Yvan Ouedraogo (Gran Canyon)
5.9 points on 62.2% on shots, 5.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.8 loss of balls in 23 minutes (13 games)
Daniel Batcho (Texas Tech)
8.6 points on 64.3% on shots, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.9 loss of balls and 1.8 against in 26 minutes (16 games)
Yohan Traore (Auburn)
2.4 points on 44.1% on shots, 1.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 0.6 loss of balls for 2.9 evaluation in 11 minutes (17 matches)
Honey to the Man (Arizona)
2.9 points on 42.5% on shots, 1.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.6 loss of balls for 3.6 rating in 8 minutes (17 games)
Kymany Houinsou (Washington State)
4.8 points on 42.0% on shots, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 loss of balls in 20 minutes (20 games)
Alex Tchikou (Rhode Island)
3.5 points on 44.4% on shots, 3.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.7 blocks and 1.4 loss of balls in 15 minutes (17 games)
Josaphat Bilau (Rhode Island)
6.9 points on 44.4% on shots, 5.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.0 blocks and 2.4 loss of balls in 23 minutes (8 games)
Quentin Diboundje (East Carolina)
7.1 points on 42.2% on shots, 0.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.2 steals and 0.6 loss of balls in 18 minutes (18 games)
Benjamin Bayela (East Carolina)
2.7 points on 23.1% on shots, 2.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.3 loss of balls in 14 minutes (15 games)
Alaaeddine Boutayeb (Arkansas State)
2.8 points on 42.9% on shots, 1.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 0.9 loss of balls in 10 minutes (12 matches)
Maxime Raynaud (Stanford)
7.7 points on 53.5% on shots, 5.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.7 blocks and 1.4 loss of balls in 20 minutes (20 games)
Kane Milling (UC Davis)
6.0 points on 40.0% on shots, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.3 loss of balls in 24 minutes (21 games)
Louis Lesmond (Harvard)
5.8 points on 31.4% on shots, 2.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks in 21 minutes (5 games)
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