ASVEL coach Pierric Poupet reflects on rebuilding after Theo Maledon's departure, the club's financial limits, and a EuroLeague growing closer to the NBA. In a candid conversation, he outlines his philosophy on progress, perspective, and competing with Europe's elite.
Credit: Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images
That blunt, pragmatic voice came through in full in a recent BasketNews interview after ASVEL's road swing to Athens. Poupet answered every question with the same balance: realistic, sometimes wry, never dramatic.
When asked whether recruitment this summer felt harder than usual, his reply was immediate and unassuming.
"It was pretty much the same. We deal with the money we have and we try to make the best decisions in order to build a competitive team," he said.
Those few words are the throughline of ASVEL's season so far.
Counting the euros
The club entered 2025–26 in a new financial reality.
Among France's top clubs, ASVEL's declared budget stands at €18.6 million, a meaningful figure but far behind the new benchmarks set by Monaco (€38.7m) and Paris Basketball (€28.8m).
Even more striking are the payroll numbers: Monaco will spend over €20 million on salaries alone; Paris nearly €8 million.
ASVEL's payroll is listed at €4.55 million. In a sport in which competitive margins can reflect millions in spending, numbers matter.
Poupet does not hide from that fact, but he also refuses to hand it out as an alibi.
"We're trying to rebuild because we lost Theo Maledon and Paris Lee, which is fine, it's part of the deal. We have players shine and then we have to move on and sign other players that can perform and develop with us."
Credit Srdjan Stevanovic/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
"There were a few challenges in
Access all the exclusive content by signing up for premium membership and for only 2.42 euro per month!
Only this article
Not ready to subscribe yet?
Unlock this page for only 1€
Unlock (1€)
Giorgos Kyriakidis
Born and raised in Athens, Giorgos Kyriakidis turned his passion for writing and basketball into a career. With a BA in Communication & Media Studies and an MA in Sport, Culture & Society, he’s spent nearly two decades reporting, commentating, and interviewing for outlets like Athens Municipal Radio and TalkBasket. Since 2021, he’s been a staff writer for BasketNews.
About author