A historic season for AS Monaco… but without a trophy: « Three lost finals is not what we wanted this season »

The 2024-2025 season will remain a paradox for AS Monaco. The Principality club reached great heights in EuroLeague without managing to plant its flag at the summit, while only brushing the peaks in France, failing to grab any titles from the three opportunities at its disposal. Thus, for the second time in five years (after 2022), the Roca Team ends up without a title (after winning EuroCup in 2021, the Championship-Cup double in 2023, and another French championship title in 2024).

« We’re a club that wants to win titles »

Defeated in the EuroLeague final by Olympiacos in their first appearance at this stage of the competition, AS Monaco also failed this season in the Leaders Cup final, French Cup semi-finals and finally, one win away from a third consecutive French championship title.

While Matthew Strazel had « no real regrets » after the Betclic ELITE playoff finale, lost 99-93 against Paris Basketball, the four-time French champion had a much stronger opinion when assessing Monaco’s overall season. « Three finals, three lost finals, we’re a club that wants to win titles. I don’t know if we can be proud, » he questioned in the mixed zone, before being much more assertive. « Sure, the EuroLeague run was great but we should have managed the rest better. Three lost finals is not what we wanted this season. »

Aiming to establish its place nationally while asserting itself as one of Europe’s powerhouses, AS Monaco ultimately failed in this quest this season, as titles matter greatly. Even though Vassilis Spanoulis wanted to highlight Monaco’s impressive performance on the continent this season, being the first French championship team to play in a EuroLeague final since… Limoges CSP in 1993. « We fought, we faced many problems (internally), we were so close… This team reached the EuroLeague final, that’s huge for French basketball, » emphasized the Greek.

Monaco’s woes:

failed recruitment, the Mike James affair

Still very well armed at the start of the season having recruited new big names last summer to achieve its objectives, AS Monaco may have actually suffered from its offseason. Nick Calathes, often injured, never really found his place and rhythm on the Rock, just like his compatriot Georgios Papagiannis. Furkan Korkmaz’s return to Europe was cut short after a few months, with the Turk being out of shape and thus out of playing level for too long. And the season’s last recruit, Daniel Theis, productive since his arrival, was however unavailable for the end of Betclic ELITE playoffs due to a problematic knee. In the end, it was the French players (Élie Okobo, Matthew Strazel, Mam’ Jaiteh) and the Roca Team « veterans » (Alpha Diallo, Jaron Blossomgame) who carried the team through this season, plus the return of soldier Terry Tarpey.

Sasa Obradovic’s replacement on Monaco’s bench also didn’t erase the team’s pet peeves, capable of wild inconsistency from one game to another. Finally, the nebulous affair around Mike James’s suspension didn’t help matters. The 2024 Finals MVP didn’t play a single playoff game and his future in the Principality is now uncertain…

Having come within one win of a first EuroLeague title and a triple crown in the French championship, AS Monaco ultimately ends its 2024-2025 season without adding to its trophy cabinet. « Losing a final, the fruit of a year’s work, is the most disappointing feeling, » said Donatas Motiejunas at the same time last year, before ASM « saved » its season with the French championship title against Paris, their executioner in 2025. This season, there was no title at all to ease Monaco’s pain…