By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
BOLOGNA, Italy – Nine years of love with his better half Clara culminated in saying “yes” to each other last year. The Cordiniers then spent their honeymoon in the Maldivian paradise; all of a sudden, a call coming from France arrived. On the other side of the line, Vincent Collet was speaking.
Isaia Cordinier had never participated in a major International tournament before with his national team, missing the call-up for EuroBasket 2022. High hopes and enthusiasm quickly disappeared, shadowed by a disappointing World Cup experience by France, eliminated in the first round.
Less than twelve months later, there was no wedding nor honeymoon in the 27-year-old forward’s plans for the summer of 2024. Loving feelings were about to be shared only for a few weeks with another part of his heart: the French national team playing the Olympics at home, in Paris.
Isaia Cordinier was part of the expedition from the beginning, but things didn’t really work out for France in the first three games. Beating Brazil in the opener was expected, but surviving a thriller ending against Japan and suffering a first-half blowout against Germany came right after.
Then, something changed in the Quarter-Finals against the then-unbeaten Canadian national team, that previously beat Australia, Spain, and Greece. Among the things that changed, the flashy French forward was put in the team’s starting five. And he delivered straight away.
“We had a talk between players, a team meeting only with players. We said some tough things [to each other] but we stayed true to each other. That gave us a direction to follow, together within the staff for sure. This togetherness with players and staff combined brought us to have this click”, Isaia Cordinier recalled those pregame days against Canada to Eurohoops in Virtus Bologna’s 2024-25 Media Day.
He simply had the best game of his life: 20 points, transition threes, defensive effort, and hustle plays to eliminate the 3rd-classified team at the World Cup, contending for an Olympic medal. “Honestly, nobody was believing in us. Only we could do it. That was the strength of this group”, he added.
A “crazy” Olympic experience for Isaia Cordinier
If that wasn’t enough, he was one of the reasons why France got its revenge against the reigning World Champions. Isaia Cordinier followed with a 16-point and 7-rebound performance against Germany in the Semi-Finals, opening the gates for the ultimate clash against a monstrous Team USA.
“The whole group kept believing, we just kept believing in ourselves. That’s what made the difference down the stretch. We stuck to each other, our group was very very solid. And I think it was a group of brothers going to war. That’s what made the difference”, he emphasized about the team’s run.
In one year, everything changed for him when it came to represent his country. From being a last-minute reserve and not preparing well enough for one of the biggest appointments of his life to coming up clutch down the stretch for France, contributing to a knockout-phase run as he had never done before.
“It’s special”, he kept it clear when asked to describe the Olympic experience Having the honor to represent France in the Olympics in Paris, especially in front of our families in our home, with our fans, was crazy. It was very intense”, Isaia Cordinier followed about such a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
These were the Olympic Games of Victor Wembanyama, Leon Marchand, Antoine Dupont, and many other iconic French athletes. For some days, they were also the Cordinier’s Olympics “It was pretty crazy. I usually use two words: unique and special. The vibe and the atmosphere were unmatched”, he said.
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“One of my closest friends is a handball player who was there too – unfortunately for them, it didn’t go very well -, but being able to exchange experiences with other athletes was special”, Virtus Bologna’s forward commented. Handball could have been his life too, considering his father Stephane dedicated his life to it. Passing the torch, Isaia is now an Olympian just like his dad in Atlanta 1996.
Commenting on his personal and winning-contributive performances, he pointed out a gut feeling inside of him. “It’s still early to realize what really happened. I was just focused on winning: that’s what all matters. To me and to my teammates. That focus we had, the chemistry, and the confidence that everybody gave to each other led to this”, Isaia Cordinier also praised the team’s effort.
“Honestly, I was just focused on winning. When you’re focused on winning, you try to do the things that help the team win. And that’s being me, being true to myself, and having the opportunity to show and help the team”, he said about his values when it came to contributing to such a remarkable success.
France came up short only against an unbelievable three-point night by the greatest shooter ever Steph Curry, helped by his other iconic countrymen. “When you’re in the competition, you see them as a team, not as players. You just want to compete and beat them. That’s all that matters. Honestly, my personal feeling was that I didn’t want Serbia to win in the Semi-Finals, because I wanted to face Team USA in the final. Sorry to my guy [Ognjen] Dobric”, he said while laughing.
“I never had the chance to compete against those guys. The word says it already: it’s “compete”, it’s not just seeing them. I wanted to compete against the best players in the world and see if we could beat them. We were very close, we didn’t miss a lot in the end: down three with two minutes to go was the game we wanted to play. A couple of details, free throws, offensive rebounds that we gave… down the stretch, we gave them the lead, and obviously Steph Curry went crazy”, he said.
Isaia Cordinier is optimistic. “It’s something we can build on. After the final, I was very disappointed, because I wanted to win this so badly. Especially at home. But after all, in a couple of minutes, I saw my wife and my parents in the crowd. Then you realize how big of an accomplishment was to win this medal. Especially when everybody wasn’t believing in us, and was almost against us”, he added about it.
Olympians who moved elsewhere this summer
While he’s still under contract with Virtus Bologna until 2025, three of his teammates from the Olympic tournament changed jerseys this summer: Frank Ntilikina and Evan Fournier returned to Europe to sign respectively with Partizan and Olympiacos, while Guerschon Yabusele moved back to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, finding a guaranteed contract after his huge Olympic performances.
Commenting on Evan Fournier’s buzzing move to Olympiacos, he has no doubts about his impact with the Greek red-and-white powerhouse. “Evan [Fournier] wants to compete. He was missing playing time in the last two years. I think he’s just happy to be back and having a role, feeling this competitive environment and the winning atmosphere that you can have in the EuroLeague”, he commented.
Isaia Cordinier touched on the newest black-and-white team’s acquisition, whom he replaced at last year’s World Cup. For Frank, it’s a great opportunity. He has been looking for some stability and playing time to show his capacities. It will be a great environment for him, I’m pretty sure he’s gonna show out and be a very good player for them”, he said about his countrymen in Belgrade.
“For both of them, it’s a great opportunity”, he added. The same can’t be said about Thomas Heurtel, who didn’t return to the EuroLeague but signed in China with the Shenzhen Leopards for next year. But he will be glad to have him on board for next year’s EuroBasket 2025. He’s not playing with Zenit Saint Petersburg anymore, and the French Basketball Federation could welcome him on board again.
“To not have Thomas [Heurtel] on the team wasn’t our choice”, he first said. “I feel like the players and the group will welcome him with open arms because he’s a teammate. We’ve been through competitions with him. We will welcome him if it ever happens. Especially a guy who has his talent, we would be glad to have him anywhere”, Isaia Cordinier added on the experienced playmaker.
Moreover, he won’t play against Guerschon Yabusele, who left Real Madrid to try his chances once again in the NBA, with the Philadelphia 76ers. When asked if he knew about the negotiations already happening during the Olympic tournament in Paris, Isaia Cordinier answered they were focused on else.
“Honestly, we were so locked in. We were just focusing on winning. That’s what made us straightened. We were so focused on us, how we could improve, how we were gonna win. Nothing was affecting our direction. Of course, afterward, then you realize that everything was very quick”, he commented.
“I’m super, super, super happy for him. I think that’s where he belongs, for a long time now. I’m super glad he got his second chance, and I think he’s gonna do great”, he then said about Guerschon Yabusele.
During the Olympic Games, former French national team’s head coach Vincent Collet revealed he didn’t know why NBA teams were going after Mathias Lessort. Could there be a future in the league for the current Panathinaikos center too? Isaia Cordinier gave his reasonable answer.
“There are a lot of guys who play in the EuroLeague who could have a chance to go to the league. It’s about timing, opportunities, chances. But for sure, Mathias [Lessort is the best five in the EuroLeague right now. His motor is unmatched, so of course he could get there and perform. I’m 100% sure”, he commented with high expectations and praise for the reigning EuroLeague champion.
I heard me you and @izaycordinier free agent next year… 👀 https://t.co/jq4bBD9TMI
— Mathias Lessort (@ThiasLsf) August 11, 2024
Continuing to build Virtus Bologna’s legacy
Finally, as the Olympic summer has concluded its trajectory, Isaia Cordinier is focused on the upcoming season with Virtus Bologna. For the first time in his career, he will face three teams from the LNB – ASVEL, AS Monaco, and Paris Basketball – in the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.
“I think French basketball is on the right path. We have the majority of our players who play outside of France, but we have guys in almost every team in the EuroLeague, even EuroCup. Now it was just the time to find a good point to have our local teams perform on the highest level as well”, he said.
“I think we aren’t there yet. But we’re on the right path, especially with those three teams: ASVEL, Monaco, and Paris. It’s getting on the right way”, he added about the French movement. “We will see. Coming from the EuroCup to the EuroLeague is tough, it’s never easy. But I think they have a good mentality and organization to do well. At least to compete”, he also said about the project in Paris.
He won’t be available for the first appointment of the season, missing the Italian Supercup, but he’s ready for more. “I’m happy to be back here, get to work with the team, and the newcomers, and build this winning atmosphere that we’re looking for”, Isaia Cordinier first said about the black-and-white team.
“We’re here. We surprised a lot of people, especially in the first part of the season last year. And we’re here to do even better than last year, to confirm that we can compete at this level. EuroLeague wasn’t due for us last year, but being able to compete at this level was clear. Now we have to be more consistent, we’re here”, the French forward also said about his team’s upside this year.
Unlike what happened in the 2023-24 season, Luca Banchi had the opportunity to build his roster and work straight from the beginning with the whole Italian squad. “The coach is great. His enthusiasm, the way he loves to compete and to win. His love for basketball is very communicative. He brings everybody with him. That’s what I like about him the most”, Isaia Cordinier said about the tactical mastermind.
This year might also witness a change of helm in the dunking king for Virtus Bologna, as Rayjon Tucker joined the team. “I give it to Tuck, no worries”, he laughed about the fantasy title. “It’s not in any plans right now, but I give it to him. It’s okay, I can have a little bit of rest now”, Isaia Cordinier concluded laughing about it. The crazy Olympic summer gave him the right boost for another year in Bologna.
🔊 𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
La 𝐕 sulle ali di AirFrance ✈️Isaïa Cordinier rinnova con la Virtus Segafredo Bologna ❗️@izaycordinier#Isaia2025 pic.twitter.com/Lciv0RXR4z
— Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) July 5, 2023
PHOTO CREDIT: Virtus Segafredo Bologna / FIBA