FIBA WORLD CUP 2023
Rudy Gobert scores his first career three-pointer
The French national team defeated Montenegro in the preparatory match before the World Cup, and the duel in Montpellier was extraordinary for Rudy Gobert.
One of the last decade’s best defenders in the NBA scored the first three-pointer in his career!
“I feel like I lost my virginity tonight,” the 31-year-old Minnesota player said after the game.
On Wednesday, the French basketball team won against Montenegro with a score of 80-69 during their second preparation match for the Asia World Cup, from August 25 to September 10. Evan Fournier and Rudy Gobert played a vital role in the victory, with Gobert even making his first three-point basket of his career.
In their previous match, France won by 57 points against Tunisia, but Montenegro proved to be a more formidable opponent with NBA player Nikola Vucevic on their team. Despite Vucevic’s return after four years, France secured the win with over 8,000 spectators cheering them on at the Sud de France Arena.
However, France will have to compete without their rising star Victor Wembanyama, who chose to skip the World Cup to prepare for his first NBA season with San Antonio. Vincent Collet maintained the same starting five as their previous match against Tunisia, consisting of Batum, Yabusele, Fournier, De Colo, and Gobert.
The French team will continue their preparation matches against Venezuela on August 7, Lithuania on August 9 and 11, Japan on August 17, and Australia on August 20. The World Cup, organized in Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia, will begin on August 25, with France playing against Canada in Jakarta as part of Group H with Latvia and Lebanon.