AS Monaco Basketball’s 2026-27 Roster: From Champions to Rebuild
The contrast is striking. Just weeks after clinching their third Betclic ELITE championship in four years with a 101-92 victory over Paris in Game 5 of the finals — capping an unprecedented quadruple trophy haul — AS Monaco Basketball is entering one of the most delicate summers in its recent history. The Roca Team’s rebuild is real, the constraints are clear, and the stakes are high.
A Tight Budget, Clear Targets
With a budget slightly exceeding €10 million for the 2026-2027 season, Monaco’s front office, led by GM Oleksiy Yefimov, is working within strict parameters. The roster target sits at 10 to 11 players, with a majority of foreign profiles, while respecting JFL (French-trained players) obligations. Coaching continuity is ensured, with Sergii Gladyr and Manuchar Markoishvili retained as head coaches. The sporting objectives are equally clear: return to Betclic ELITE and compete in EuroCup.
Hovering over everything, however, is an unresolved administrative situation. The FFBB Appeals Chamber must validate the takeover project led by the Helen Holdings group, fronted by former NBA player Jamal Mashburn — an All-Star with the Dallas Mavericks during his playing career — with a decision expected after July 27, 2026.
On the recruitment side, one signing is already confirmed: Daron Russell. The 1.80m, 28-year-old point guard was the leading scorer of the 2025-2026 EuroCup season, averaging 19.8 points, 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. Named to the All-EuroCup Second Team, Russell will be one of the Roca Team’s flagship signings — a statement of ambition despite the budget constraints.
JFL Priorities Reflect Both Sentiment and Strategy
Monaco’s JFL recruitment strategy is layered with both sporting logic and emotional resonance. The top priority is Juhann Begarin, the 23-year-old wing (1.96m) who has spent two seasons in the Principality. His 18-point performance in the championship-clinching Game 5 against Paris encapsulates his trajectory — a player hitting his stride at exactly the right moment, averaging 7.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in Betclic ELITE. He represents the logical foundation of the new project.
Stats 2025-2026 / Betclic ELITEPTS 7,6 #120 REB 3,9 #64 PD 1,1 #143
Beyond Begarin, the Roca Team is exploring the return of Yakuba Ouattara, the former club captain whose contract at Paris Basketball has expired. At 34, the 1.90m veteran carries significant symbolic weight in the Principality and remains in discussions. Joël Ayayi, 26, is another name on the list — underutilized at Paris Basketball last season (6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game), the 1.93m guard could find a more prominent role on the Riviera.
The most coveted target, however, may be Mathis Dossou-Yovo. The 25-year-old forward-center (2.06m) delivered one of the standout JFL seasons in Betclic ELITE, posting 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game at Nanterre in just 24.33 minutes of play. He has since left Nanterre and attracted multiple offers, including from Turkey. His profile fits Yefimov’s needs precisely — but Monaco will face serious competition.
Mathis Dossou-Yovo (Nanterre) - Joël Ayayi (Paris Basketball) · Betclic ELITE 2025-2026Mathis Dossou-Yovo Joël Ayayi GP 20 27 PTS 17.8 6 REB 7.3 3.6 AST 0.8 2.4 STL 0.7 1.3 BLK 0.2 0.1
Two veteran internationals, Nikola Mirotic and Nemanja Nedovic, remain under contract with uncertain futures. Meanwhile, 19-year-old point guard Kyllian Michée, despite promising early appearances, cannot yet count as a JFL due to his extended Real Madrid academy background — one more season is required before he obtains that status.
The Roca Team’s summer is a high-wire act: honoring the legacy of a historic quadruple while engineering a leaner, smarter roster capable of competing at the highest level again.
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