FRA - An opportunity for Petro

PARIS (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Johan Petro has another chance to earn a place in France's EuroBasket squad.

With Ronny Turiaf making himself unavailable this summer, coach Vincent Collet has opened the door to Petro, someone who has always oozed with potential but never quite lived up to expectations.

When he left Pau Orthez several years ago to launch his overseas career with the old Seattle SuperSonics, the NBA team had a raw talent who was a towering 2.13m in height.

Petro played for the Sonics (and Oklahoma City after the Sonics were relocated) for four seasons but didn't establish himself as a top-tier pivot.

He has also had stints with Denver, New Jersey and most recently, Atlanta.

Petro has lasted for a long time in the NBA but has a career average of 4.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in just over 15 minutes per game.

As a teenager with France, Petro might have expected that he would go on to have a big role with the national team.

In 2004 at the U18 European Championship, Petro made the all-tournament team with players like Sergio Rodriguez and Carlos Suarez of Spain.

After his rookie season in the NBA, he played for France at the 2006 FIBA World Championship but coach Claude Bergeaud elected not to include him in the squad for EuroBasket 2007.

Bergeaud said at the time that being an NBA player was not a guarantee for selection.

In the qualifying campaign for EuroBasket 2009, Petro played a few games but he was eventually let go by Vincent Collet, although the coach said at the time that Petro had worked extremely hard and displayed a great attitude.

It’s often been said that centers take longer to develop.

Still only 27 years of age, Petro would appear to have time on his side.

Now among 17 players battling for a spot in the French EuroBasket squad, Petro may be thinking that now is when he needs to be at his best if he ever wants to wear the shirt of Les Bleus again.

If he makes the team, Petro could them help France try to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

France preliminary squad: Alexis Ajinca, Nicolas Batum, Yannick Bokolo, Nando De Colo, Boris Diaw, Antoine Diot, Evan Fournier, Mickael Gelabale, Thomas Heurtel, Edwin Jackson, Charles Kahudi, Joffrey Lauvergne, Tony Parker, Johan Petro, Florent Pietrus, Kim Tillie and Leo Westermann.

FIBA