FRA – Noah and Parker needed for France to reach London

VALENCIA (EuroBasket 2011) – It’s been a long time – 10 years to be exact - since France stepped up to the podium at an Olympic Games.

The person Les Bleus need more than any other to get there, it seems, goes by the name of Joakim Noah.

About to begin his fourth NBA season with the Chicago Bulls, France have wanted Noah the past two seasons but he’s had to focus almost exclusively on his career in the United States.

After signing a multi-year contract extension with the Bulls this summer, France are keeping their fingers crossed that the 2.11m center will finally wear the national team shirt next summer in Lithuania and help the country reach the Olympics for the first time since Sydney 2000.

"Of course,” France veteran Florent Pietrus said to FIBA.com.

“That's our goal, to reach the Olympics.

“That's why Tony Parker rested this summer.

“And now with Joakim Noah signing his contract, I think we're going to have a big team next year.”

Chicago announced they had signed Noah to an extension earlier this month.

Noah, who had some off-the-court problems as a rookie and didn’t impress on the court either, got his act together and was instrumental as the Bulls made it to the play-offs the last couple of seasons.

The contract appears to have made him more determined as a player and a person.

“They gave me a lot of money, but I know with this money comes a lot of responsibility,” he said.

“I’m going to stay hungry and give 150% every time I’m on the court.”

That’s good news for the Bulls, and should be good news for France.

"I think everybody is ready to make it,” Pietrus said of the Olympics.

“It's a goal we've been trying to reach.

“It's been like 10 years for France so it's a big aim for me.”

France had the makings of a fine team this summer in Turkey.

They won their first three games in Group D, beating defending champions Spain before thumping Lebanon and edging Canada.

But after falling to in-form Lithuania, Vincent Collet’s team suffered a defeat to New Zealand that threw them into an Eight-Final against Turkey.

The hosts throttled them, 95-77.

In hindsight, France lacked a true point guard, and a true center.

The playmakers from EuroBasket 2009 in Poland when France lost to Spain in the last eight, Parker and Antoine Diot (back injury), missed out.

Big man Ronny Turiaf also was absent in Turkey.

France finished 13th, but Pietrus says Izmir and Istanbul must be considered a positive experience.

"It wasn't so bad,” he said.

“The most important thing is next year.

“Tony Parker didn't play because like (Pau) Gasol, okay - (at the) World Championship, you have only one ticket to go to the Olympics.

"The most important thing is next year.

“They took a rest and I think it was better for us to give the young players experience.”

But is Noah as good as France think he is?

"Everyone knows Noah is very important for us,” Pietrus said.

“He's big, he's talented, he can run - everything.

“Now he's signed a contract and it will be a pleasure to play with him next summer."

FIBA