"Wasn't it time for us to step up our game?"
Monaco-born Basketball Star Élie Okobo Finds New Freedom Under New French Coach
Élie Okobo, a 27-year-old basketball player from Monaco, has been making waves in the French national team under their new coach, Frédéric Fauthoux. Okobo, known for his ability to create shots without relying on a play system, has found a new lease of freedom this summer.
This freedom has been a stark contrast to his time under previous coach Vincent Collet, where Okobo felt restricted. Collet criticized Okobo's behaviour during a timeout against Lebanon at the 2023 World Cup, an incident that seemed to have affected Okobo during the preparation for the current tournament.
Okobo's performance at the 2023 World Cup seemed to have left him yearning for more freedom, a desire that has been fulfilled under Fauthoux. Okobo's double-double against Poland—14 points and 10 assists—is a testament to his newfound role in the team.
However, Okobo's journey under Fauthoux has not been without its challenges. During the crucial first game against Georgia, Okobo criticized the lack of seriousness shown by France's starting lineup. He was replaced after just three minutes in the third quarter, an action that Okobo expressed his discontent with during a timeout called by Fauthoux. Okobo pulled his jersey out of his shorts, showing signs of disagreement with the coach.
Despite this incident, Okobo seems to have found his place under Fauthoux, two years after watching the Paris Olympics on TV. Okobo is France's second-leading scorer with 12.7 points per game, behind Guerschon Yabusele, and is still the primary playmaker with 5 decisive assists per game.
In the aftermath of France's elimination from EuroBasket 2025, Okobo invited his team to learn from the Latvian journey, but was non-committal about future plans, saying "We'll see how it goes."
Fauthoux, on the other hand, has pointed out some shortcomings in Okobo's game management during the match against Georgia. Okobo had a poor shooting performance against Georgia, making 4/12 field goals and 1/5 three-point shots, and had 3 assists.
Okobo, however, remains optimistic, stating that France should have taken the initiative from the first minute and that the defeat was due to a lack of experience and concentration. As the French team prepares for its next tournament, Okobo's growth under Fauthoux will be a key factor to watch.
