It may be a golden age for France in the NBA. And not just because of Victor Wembanyama

The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The No. 1, No. 2 and No. 6 picks in this year’s NBA draft. They all have something in common.

They are French.

It is not a new concept for France to have players in the NBA; there have been about four dozen over the years. But this may be the golden age when it comes to the quality of French players in the world’s premier basketball league, with stars, rising stars and potential stars scattered everywhere.

San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama is the reigning Rookie of the Year, Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert is a four-time Defensive Player of the Year and the new influx of French talent is expected to begin their rise this season with No. 1 draft pick Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, No. 2 pick Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards and No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaün of the Charlotte Hornets.

“It’s not just France. It’s Spain, it’s Italy, it’s Germany, all these places, Australia,” San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Some of these kids are starting to 13, 14, 15 years old and go to these clubs. They leave their families, go to clubs. They go to school in the morning and play basketball in the afternoon. And they learn individual skills, they learn team skills, how to play. This is something serious. They love the game like all of us here. They have great coaches and over time, there you go.

The global basketball light has been shining on France for some time – and it’s been shining particularly brightly of late. The United States won the men’s and women’s basketball gold medals at the Paris Olympics, beating France in both finals, and neither victory was easy; The American men found themselves in a three-point game until the final moments and the women won gold by just one point over the hosts.

Wembanyama – who will play two games in France in January when the Spurs and Indiana Pacers travel to Paris for clashes – was unanimously named NBA rookie of the year. Gobert tied a record with his fourth Defensive Player of the Year win and the draft’s first six picks were split down the middle with three from the United States and three from France, an unprecedented occurrence.

“It’s been great. It’s been great,” Risacher said, in perfect English, about getting used to life in Atlanta. “It’s an adjustment to make, but it’s definitely a good thing to do.” I mean, I’m 19 and I have the opportunity to do so many things in my life. …I’m super excited, super happy.

Comparisons between Risacher and Wembanyama will be inevitable – both French, both No. 1, in consecutive years no less. It’s something the Hawks have talked about, and it’s something they hope they don’t take with this year’s top pick.

“I tried to kind of express what I think is the reality of the situation,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “You know, we literally won the lottery.

“What we really tried to get across to Zack is that his work ethic is geared toward improvement,” he added. “And I think he loves to play and that comes out in some games. He knows how to play.”

Among those who can’t wait to see how Risacher plays: Wembanyama. But the Spurs star offered no advice to the Hawks rookie on how to handle what lies ahead with the NBA season starting this week.

“I will always be there for him, as a future national team teammate, I hope, and as a friend, of course,” Wembanyama said. “But he has his own story to write. And I don’t think he needs advice. I have a lot of confidence in his mental strength.

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