“I want to become a professional basketball player,” an 8-year-old Marine Johannes said to her parents. While her athletic journey started with Football, her dad, Lionel, knew her pace was built for the hardwood. So it came as no surprise when other parents would tell him and his wife, Geraldine, how good their daughter was. But it surely filled them with pride. To further her interest, Lionel brought a portable screen for Johannes on which she would put her NBA DVD and spend hours watching Michael Jordan and Jason Williams. Although it is possible she got those passing skills from “white chocolate” himself, her idol’s passing was no less.
Tony Parker, who was putting European basketball on the map in San Antonio at the time, was a god to Marine. And so, she would urge Lionel to take her to Parker’s games where he played for the French National team. Her passion for Parker made Lionel and Geraldine collect Parker’s singing record along with piles of magazines and DVDs for Johannes, which they still have. Living and breathing basketball from a young age, Marine’s rise was fast and inevitable.
She began her basketball odyssey at the age of eight, in the same local club as fellow French star Nicolas Batum. Her innate talent was quickly recognized, which led her to join the esteemed USO Mondeville system at just 12. It was here that her potential truly began to unfurl. She honed her skills, contributing significantly to Mondeville’s success, including multiple U17 French League titles and a U17 French Cup. Her dedication and flair for the game were evident, paving the way for her professional debut with Mondeville in the LFB, the top French league, at 17.
Where is Marine Johannes from? What’s the New York Liberty star’s nationality?
Marine Johannes is a French national who was born in Bonnebosq, a town of less than 750 people in France’s northern Lisieux. She still visits the place, which might be one of the only places where she isn’t crowded for pictures. Spending time at her home is how Marine recharges her creativity, bonding with family, at the beach, or just in the garden.
She has also represented the French National Team multiple times, with her debut being in 2016. She was only 21 when she was selected for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which caused surprise at her inclusion. Despite France’s defeat in the semi-final against the United States and their inability to win the Bronze against Serbia, Johannes made a lasting impression on the global stage. From there on, Johannes was a vital organ of the French squad, who went on to win silver at three consecutive EuroBasket tournaments in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Her quest for the first global medal ended at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), when France won the bronze and exacted revenge against the Serbians.
As the French hosted the Olympics in Paris last year, Marine took a sabbatical from the WNBA to prepare for the games. Her team narrowly missed out on gold as the United States beat them by 1 point in the final.
What is Marine Johannes’ ethnicity and religion?
While the information on Marine Johannes is not known to the public, her last name gives us some room to speculate. Due to its Hebrew origin and the prominence of figures like Saint John the Baptist, the name “Johannes” has become strongly associated with Christianity, especially in Germany and Northern Europe. However, individuals bearing the surname can be of any faith or non-religious. The surname may simply be a given name that has been adopted as a last name, or it could be a family name passed down through generations, regardless of religious affiliation.
Has Marine Johannes played in the EuroLeague?
Marine Johannes didn’t just arrive on the European basketball scene; she exploded onto it, bringing her signature flair to the EuroLeague. Before dazzling in the WNBA, she made a real name for herself playing for French powerhouses like Bourges Basket and later LDLC ASVEL Féminin. Watching her in the EuroLeague was always a treat. You never knew what incredible pass or jaw-dropping shot she was going to pull off next. She wasn’t just scoring; she was making everyone around her better with her classic no-look dimes and creative finishes.
During her time, especially with ASVEL and Bourges, she was a key player, often leading the team in assists and being a go-to scorer. For example, in the 2018-2019 season with Bourges, she averaged an impressive 15.1 points and 4.7 assists in EuroLeague play. She even dropped a career-high 38 points in a game during the 2020-2021 season with ASVEL! It was clear she had that special something, that basketball IQ and creativity that sets truly great guards apart. While she can be a bit shy with the media, her play speaks volumes. Her coaches and teammates often praised her unique talent and how she could change the game’s momentum in an instant.
While Marine did not compete in the WNBA last year, she did play in the EuroLeague Women, where she competed for the Turkish club Çimsa ÇBK Mersin, participating in both domestic Turkish league games (KBSL) and EuroLeague play.
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