The LNB Pro A, currently known for sponsorship reasons as Betclic Élite, is the top-tier men's professional basketball league in France. The competition has existed since 1921. Since 1987, the Ligue Nationale de Basket has governed the league. The bottom two placed teams from each season are relegated to the second tier level Pro B. The winner of the play-offs of the Pro A is crowned the French national champion.
The France men's national basketball team represents France in international basketball and is administered by the French Federation of Basketball. France is currently ranked ninth in the FIBA World Ranking.
Robert Albert Kurland was a 7 feet (2.1 m) American basketball center, who played for the two-time NCAA champion Oklahoma A&M Aggies basketball team. He led the U.S. basketball team to gold medals in two Summer Olympics, and led his AAU team to three national titles. He is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Modestas Paulauskas is a former Soviet and Lithuanian professional basketball coach and basketball player.
Pierre André Buffière was a French basketball player and coach. He was born in Vion, Ardèche. He was awarded the Glory of Sport in 1995. He was inducted into the French Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2004.
Stepas Butautas was a Soviet and Lithuanian professional basketball player and coach. He trained at the VSS Žalgiris, in Kaunas. He played with the Soviet Union men's national basketball team at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games, where he won a silver medal. During the tournament, he played in all eight games.
Li Nan is a former professional basketball player from China. Before his retirement in 2009, he played for the Bayi Rockets, a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Ningbo, Zhejiang. As a small forward, he is 1.98 m (6'6") tall and weighs 104 kg.
Aymeric Jeanneau is a French professional basketball player. He is a 1.85 m tall point guard.
František Konvička is a former Czech professional basketball player and coach. At 6'3 3⁄4" tall, he played at the small forward position.
The LNB All-Star Game is the annual All-Star Game that is organised by France's professional club basketball governing body, the LNB. The LNB organizes both of the top two French men's pro club competitions, the top-level LNB Pro A, and the second-level LNB Pro B. The event was first held in 1987, and is loosely based on the NBA All-Star Game.
Laurent Tillie is a French professional volleyball coach and former player. He was a member of the French national volleyball team from 1982 to 1995 and a participant in the Olympic Games. He currently serves as head coach for the Japanese team, Panasonic Panthers.
Jean Perniceni was a French professional basketball player and coach. Jean Perniceni was born in Bagnolet, Seine-Saint-Denis. He played as a shooting guard-small forward (swingman). He was inducted into the French Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2009.
Jean-Paul Beugnot was a French professional basketball player and coach. Standing at 2.07 m tall, Beugnot played at the power forward and center positions. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players, in 1991. He was inducted into the French Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004. He was awarded the Glory of Sport in 2013.
Marcelo Vido is a Brazilian former professional basketball player and coach.
Ricardo Cardoso Guimarães, commonly known as Cadum, is a Brazilian former professional basketball player and coach.
Hervé Dubuisson is a French former professional basketball player and coach. During his playing career, at a height of 1.97 m tall, he played at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Dubuisson is the French Championship's all-time career leader in total points scored. He is also the senior French national team's all-time career leader in total points scored.
Philippe "Philip" Szanyiel is a French former professional basketball player and coach. He was inducted into the French Basketball Hall of Fame, as a player, in 2011.
Demétrius Conrado Ferraciú, also commonly known simply as Demétrius is a Brazilian former professional basketball player and coach.
Basketball is the fifth most popular sport in France and was first played there in 1893. For females, it is the number one team sport.
Jean-Pierre De Vincenzi, born on March 27, 1957, in Marmande, France. Is a former French basketball player, coach, and administrator, who has held the positions of National Technical Director (DTN) and General Director of the French Basketball Federation, as well as General Director of the French National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance. He was later appointed as Inspector General of Youth and Sports.
