By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After playing with France at EuroBasket 2022 and signing a declared statement about not heading to Russia, but eventually signing later on with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Thomas Heurtel now opens up about coming back to the French national team.
Interviewed by Ouest-France, the 33-year-old playmaker recalled his silver medal experience with Vincent Collet’s team. “During the last European championship, I had my best campaign with the Blues. But it’s also the competition where I had the most playing time. It’s also what happens at the Zenit: I really play, and I have a lot more responsibilities”, he said.
After saying that he didn’t “give a f–k” about the criticism over playing in Russia, the former Barcelona and Real Madrid now said that if France calls him, he “will be ready”.
At the beginning of November 2022, the president of the French Federation Jean-Pierre Siutat closed the doors of the national team to Thomas Heurtel, saying that “he did not respect his commitment, it’s over”.
He’s now averaging 13.7 points and 9.0 assists per game with Zenit Saint Petersburg in the VTB League with coach Xavi Pascual, shooting 47.8% from the field and 43.6% from beyond the arc.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIBA EuroBasket 2022