Tony Parker says ASVEL remain committed to the EuroLeague for now, while keeping the door open to NBA Europe in the future.
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne president Tony Parker opened up on the club's decision to commit to the EuroLeague in an interview with L'Equipe.
Tony Parker
Tony Parker
Position: PG
Age: 43
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Birth place: Bruges, Belgium
Although ASVEL confirmed their long-term commitment to the EuroLeague and strengthened their ownership structure with new strategic shareholders, Parker revealed that the club is keeping its options open regarding a potential move to the NBA Europe project in the future.
For now, however, ASVEL's ambition is to remain at the highest level, which Parker says is the EuroLeague.
"There is no doubt that NBA Europe is coming, whether it is with the EuroLeague or without it," Parker said via SKWEEK.
"I have always said that we keep our options open and that we want to be the bridge between NBA Europe and the EuroLeague. Today, the EuroLeague remains the best league in Europe, and we want to stay at the highest level."
Credit Getty Images via AFP/Scanpix
"We keep building. We keep looking ahead. This season was a transition year. If we are back in the EuroLeague next season, it won't be to fight for the bottom spots," he added.
The club's managing president, Gaetan Muller, added that while there were disagreements with the EuroLeague this season, staying in the competition is the best path for the organization to grow.
"We had disagreements with the EuroLeague this season, that is true. But we are loyal. We want to build with the EuroLeague," Muller stated.
"If we go with the NBA right now, just like that, we cannot build. The only way to have a strong league is one great league."
"Today, either European basketball remains unreadable, or we take the turn toward unity and rapprochement. That is the whole challenge for us."
"Do we want to go into NBA Europe? Yes. Do we want to leave the EuroLeague? No. We want to do everything we can to bring the two closer together, and we believe we must play a major role," he noted.
Credit Image – Scanpix
The French club endured a difficult 2025-26 EuroLeague campaign. ASVEL finished last in the regular season with just eight wins, becoming the only team with fewer than 10 victories.
Their offensive struggles were especially severe. ASVEL posted the league's worst offensive rating at 107.4, scored the fewest points per game with 79.3, and ranked last in both three-point percentage at 33% and two-point percentage at 51.6%. Defensively, they also finished near the bottom, ranking 15th overall.
The departure of veteran guard Nando De Colo added to the team's difficulties, and ASVEL closed the season on an eight-game losing streak.
The club had previously been linked with the proposed NBA Europe project, largely due to Parker's long-standing ties in the U.S.
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