France entered the FIBA World Cup with expectations of a podium finish.
Even without young phenom Victor Wembanyama signing up to play, the country boasted an experienced and decorated core of Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum and New York Knicks forward Evan Fournier.
Now, after just two games, that decorated core was eliminated on Sunday following a shocking 88-86 defeat to Latvia. After all that expectation, the fifth-ranked country in the world won’t even make it out of group stage play in the tournament.
France held a 12-point lead entering the fourth quarter before Latvia rallied to take its first lead in the final minute of the game.