Monaco GM Oleksiy Yefimov discusses the NBA Europe project, EuroLeague stability, club spending control, Nick Calathes' departure, Monaco's roster strategy, and the evolving competitive future of European basketball.
AS Monaco entered the 2025–26 season with their window to compete for European basketball's highest prize wide open.
However, the landscape around them is shifting faster than ever.
After making it to their first EuroLeague title game in Abu Dhabi, Monaco doubled down this summer.
Their roster continuity was a choice, not a fallback — extending Alpha Diallo and Matthew Strazel, then reinforcing with a marquee arrival in former MVP Nikola Mirotic.
The core remained anchored by Mike James, now the club's official captain, and energized under the leadership of head coach Vassilis Spanoulis.
Last year, Monaco operated under financial regulations limiting shareholder contributions to 50% of the budget, reinforcing the need for growth through commercial revenue.
The club has proven it can compete with Europe's elite. But to stay there, it must first build the infrastructure.
European basketball at a crossroads
While Monaco pursue long-term security, the continent's competitive map is being redrawn.
NBA Europe managing director George Aivazoglou has outlined major developments for a new league targeting launch in October 2027.
The competition would feature 16 teams — 12 permanent clubs plus 4 based on sporting merit, including a direct pathway from Europe's domestic leagues and the Basketball Champions League.
Oleksiy Yefimov, Monaco's general manager, argues that this period of uncertainty must instead become a moment of leadership.
"Let's be clear: the NBA entering Europe doesn't mark the beginning of basketball here, it's an attempt to join a game that already exists," he recently told BasketNews.
"Their strategy often relies on creating tension among clubs, publicly prioritizing some while questioning the relevance of others. Our response must
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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.
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