18th in 2022-2023 and 17th in 2023-2024, ASVEL launches its EuroLeague season this Thursday, October 3 with a first trip to Belgrade, to face the Israelis of Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
The more the years go by, the more Tony Parker’s club gains a reputation on the European scene for not being at the competitive level. A reputation that sticks to the skin of the Rhone club despite the arrivals in 2022 of star players on the Old Continent, Nando De Colo (1.95 m, 37 years old) and Joffrey Lauvergne (2.11 m, 33 years old). Despite their presence in the squad and an operation at 21 million euros, the dysfunctional team has not improved its results over the last two seasons.
Committed to the EuroLeague for the long term thanks to a so-called “permanent” A license, ASVEL must at least settle in the soft underbelly of the ranking. It remains to be seen whether this will be possible in 2024-2025?
Why ASVEL will progress in the hierarchy this season:
Pierric Poupet: In 2023-2024, ASVEL had three different coaches on its staff. TJ Parker left shortly before All Saints’ Day, replaced by the much-maligned Gianmarco Pozzecco. Unconvincing, the latter did not make it through the winter and it was the discreet Pierric Poupet, who had joined his best friend… TJ Parker in the Rhone staff a few years earlier, who took charge. Serious, appreciated by executives, he knew how to impose himself through work. Now installed, with continuity in the workforce, he will be able to advance the Villeurbanne collective.
A more coherent group: Due to a lack of a shattering budget, ASVEL had to get back to work to find players at a lower cost, as they were able to do when they arrived in the EuroLeague. In addition to Théo Maledon (1.93 m, 23 years old), relaunching after four seasons in the NBA, the club signed the experienced Tarik Black (2.06 m, 32 years old) inside, but also Shaquille Harrison ( 1.93 m, 30 years old) and Admiral Schofield (1.97 m, 27 years old), two players who will try to establish themselves in Europe, as well as rising winger Melvin Ajinca (2.02 m, 20 years old). Finally, Neal Sako (2.10 m, 25 years old) still has plenty of room for improvement. He should reach a milestone by rubbing shoulders with the best interiors on the European circuit.
A hard core to ensure real continuity : Nando De Colo and Joffrey Lauvergne attack the season reinvigorated. At the club for three years, they form a real hard core with veteran David Lighty (1.98 m, 36 years old), Edwin Jackson (1.90 m, 35 years old), Charles Kahudi (1.99 m, 38 years old) but also the leader Paris Lee (1.83 m, 29 years old) and the 4/3 position Mbaye Ndiaye (2.04 m, 25 years old) who already proved his importance last season. With the addition of the same coach, they constitute a good squad base.
Competition within reach : Several teams seem to be able to be dominated by ASVEL this season, starting with the clubs from the capitals of the Franco-German couple, namely Paris and Berlin. On paper, beating Red Star Belgrade, Zalgiris Kaunas, and even Bayern Munich, Baskonia or even Virtus Bologna (whose budget is decreasing) is entirely possible. Without forgetting various exploits.
Why ASVEL will remain at the bottom of the ranking:
The instability of the club: Faced with ever-increasing competition, ASVEL has attempted convoluted agreements over the past two years with Smart Good Things and Fedcom Media. As a result, the money lost in these cases has seriously damaged the economic health and margin image of the green house. Just before the season, Paris Lee almost flew to AS Monaco. It is not easy to navigate this world marked by instability.
The pace of the EuroLeague : ASVEL’s average age, over 30, was the largest in the EuroLeague in 2023-2024. The presence of De Colo, Lauvergne, Lighty, Jackson and Kahudi guarantees a real experience but with the planned schedule (34 EuroLeague regular season matches, 30 Betclic ELITE, the Coupe de France and the probable Leaders Cup), the team will have a lot to do on all fronts. Everyone will need to stay in shape, including veterans, to remain competitive.
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Lack of shooters: In 2023-2024, ASVEL finished with the penultimate 3-point address (33.7%) average in the EuroLeague. Without a real stretch 4, nor a new talented back at this level (this is far from being Shaquille Harrison’s No. 1 strength), the skill potential of Lyon-Villeurbanne has not evolved positively in the offseason.
The few guarantees provided by the recruits: Paris obliges, the players recruited by ASVEL know little or nothing about the EuroLeague. If Théo Maledon had tasted this competition before his Draft in 2020, only Tarik Black has real experience in the competition. Thus, it is difficult to know whether the newcomers will have a significant impact at such a level.
