Jordan has always been an elite brand, signing elite and potentially promising athletes worldwide, and for new and budding basketball stars, it’s always a big deal to collaborate with them. And just two months ahead of the Paris Olympics, we hear Wizards Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly and potential WNBA prospect Dominique Malonga signed a contract with Jordan, the brand, for a footwear and apparel endorsement deal.

Both Coulibaly and Malonga have performed well this year in their respective fields. Malonga is even nominated as the “Best Prospect of the LFB” for her spectacular performance in the French basketball club.

Bilal’s inclusion chances in the French national team for basketball might get more favorability. However, that dream can wait two months, and for now, it’s just a shoe and clothing contract for Coulibaly. Interestingly, both Bilal and Malonga are part of the extended French team for the Summer Olympics.

It is not the first time Bilal has associated with a big brand. Before his rookie season, the Washington Wizards winger even signed up with Nike. Other famous rookies who shared a similar fate were Victor Wembanayama, Amen Thompson, and Brandon Miller, among others. Coulibaly first signed the same brand as star Wembanayama and will not get to play alongside his compatriot in the Paris Olympics.

French National Roster for the Paris Olympics

The 19-membered preliminary French National team for the Paris Olympics features players like Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert. Capturing the NBA Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the award, respectively, the former two players will form the best defense for the French team. Apart from them, other key players in the team are Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier. Even French Coach Vincent Collet stressed building the best defense for the upcoming Summer Olympics.

At a news conference, Collet concurred that their team “excels” in the defensive area right now. However, besides adding the NBA superstars, the French coach has also added young guns to the national team to create a dynamic play. To serve this purpose, he has included players like Bilal Coulibaly, Killian Hayes, and Ousmane Dieng. All of them have created their own domain the NBA league this season. Though the French side will miss the absence of Thomas Heurtel, the front office has managed to balance the team by recruiting five-point guards.

With tough opponents like Serbia, Turkey, Germany, and Australia on the other side, the victory will not come easy to France. However, ther persistence is the thing that has got them so far on the world platform. Hopefully, the French team will give a tough front to other basketball teams at the Paris Olympics.