"He Alters Game Plans": Goulding's Glimpse Into Incredible Talent

The NBL is quickly becoming flooded with some of the most exciting French talent in the world, and after his time with Paris Basketball in the French LNB Pro A, Melbourne star Chris Goulding believes he knows why.

Alex Sarr is the latest French phenom to join the NBL, and will suit up for the Perth Wildcats in NBL24. He follows in the footsteps of former Next Stars Rayan Rupert and Ousmane Dieng, and former New Zealand import Hugo Besson to utilize the NBL as a draft pathway.

“There’s a massive African influence in the French league so there’s a lot of really young, athletic players that are super exciting,” Goulding told RSN.

“In Europe in general there’s just bigger bodies and a lot more young athletes. We see them and we’re trying to get them over for our Next Stars program – Ariel Hukporti is a prime example.”

Goulding faced off against the most well-known of this French golden generation in Victor Wembanyama in his final game for Will Weaver’s Paris side – and only a win would see them secure post-season basketball.

A Metropolitans 92 side featuring the projected number one pick, projected lottery selection Bilal Coulibaly, and NBL23 imports TaShawn Thomas and Barry Brown Jr proved too strong for Goulding and company though, as Paris fell by eight points.

Goulding started that game and put 12 points on the board against Mets, and has given a firsthand look into what it was like playing one of the most remarkable talents in world basketball.

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“He is so big,” Goulding said. “He would have to be 7’4” with arms that just reach up and hang off the rim.

“His rim protection, the way he defends around the basket and the keyway is, at the moment, probably his biggest upside.

“Our game plan was completely altered around essentially not shooting the ball when he’s defnding it.

“He alters game plans, anywhere near the rim he’s dunking it. He’s pretty impressive.”