As if Team France needed more bad news.
On paper, Team France should be a power in international play. With a roster that boasts Tony Parker, Joakim Noah, Boris Diaw, Nando De Colo, Kevin Seraphin, Evan Fournier, Nicolas Batum, and Ian Mahinmi, France has it all.
However, that is on paper.
Heading into the 2014 FIBA World Cup, France will be without Parker, Noah, Seraphin and, now, De Colo.
According to reports, Nando will be out of action due to a hand injury suffered during a scrimmage.
Federation for French national-team confirmed Nando de Colo is OUT of World Cup, injured hand during scrimmage.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) August 16, 2014
This just compounds France’s woes.
Losing Parker was bad enough but losing a player who has NBA and international competition experience like De Colo just make France’s shot at a medal tougher.
Team USA, Spain, Brazil, Australia and Greece are the top-tier teams as is France. But without some of their seasoned vets, a chance at a medal is just more fleeting for the defending Eurobasket champions from last summer.
De Colo averaged 3.8 points per game in 10.5 minutes per game last season for the Spurs and Raptors.
The World Cup kicks off later this month in Spain. Team U.S.A.’s next game is Wednesday against Dominican Republic at Madison Square Garden.
