If Tony Parker keeps a watchful eye on the progress of the NBA Europe project, ASVEL announced this Wednesday…
Tony Parker has made his decision. For several months, the possibility of ASVEL leaving the Euroleague was on the table due to the desire of its president for the European league project desired by the NBA and FIBA. In this sense, the Rhône club’s commitment to the Basketball Champions League next season was mentioned last October as a prerequisite for joining NBA Europe at its launch in 2027. However, in a statement released this Wednesday, the Villeurbanne club clarified its future at the European level and definitively ruled out the possibility of joining the continental competition launched by FIBA a decade ago.
New investors coming to ASVEL
Indeed, ASVEL announced “the continuation of its commitment to the Euroleague” for a period of ten years as a permanent member of the competition. In addition, ASVEL announced “the arrival of new strategic shareholders” to assert “its desire to establish itself permanently among the major European basketball clubs.” As a result, the Rhône club welcomes “new leading investors” to “strengthen its structure and support its ambitions.” This capital contribution comes as the club was sanctioned this season by the Euroleague due to insufficient payroll. Among these partners, we find the Swiss group HelvetX with French driver Pierre Gasly involved.
NBA Europe still in sight
However, while ASVEL has decided to extend its adventure with the Euroleague, the prospect of the NBA arriving on the Old Continent remains on Tony Parker’s radar. “These two actions reflect a confirmed ambition, that of building a bridge between Europe and the NBA with a clear vision: to become a key player in bringing EuroLeague and the NBA closer together with a view to the emergence of a future NBA Europe,” the club specifies in its statement. Above all, ASVEL plans to equip itself “with the necessary means to accelerate its sporting, economic, and international development.” The goal is to “strengthen its model, expand its influence beyond French territory, and play a key role in the future evolutions of European basketball.”
