EuroLeague pressures ASVEL: « They clearly need to find ways to be competitive »
Oct 1, 2025
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
ASVEL ready to leave EuroLeague for BCL before joining future NBA Europe!
EuroLeague - According to Le Progrès, Tony Parker's ASVEL is set to leave EuroLeague at the end of the season to return to BCL (Champions League), before joining the upcoming NBA Europe. A major announcement that could shake up the continental basketball hierarchy.
Photo Credit : Sébastien Grasset
This is a real earthquake in French basketball. According to information from Luc Paganon of Le Progrès, ASVEL is expected to turn the page on EuroLeague in summer 2026 to join the Basketball Champions League (BCL), FIBA’s flagship club competition in Europe. This strategic repositioning would align with the arrival of NBA Europe, which is expected to launch within two to three years.
A strategic decision after years of losses in EuroLeague
ASVEL, which was due to discuss the renewal of its permanent EuroLeague license, has reportedly chosen to leave a competition where « all members are losing money », reminds Le Progrès. At the start of the season, EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas had pressured ASVEL regarding its financial means and sporting results.
Following ALBA Berlin’s path, the Villeurbanne club would opt for BCL from the 2026-2027 season, ten years after participating in the competition’s inaugural season in 2016-2017. This return to FIBA would allow the club to stabilize its financial situation and align with future NBA Europe standards, in direct collaboration with the International Federation. The Lyon daily reports that other clubs might follow the same path, while their rival AS Monaco has expressed concerns about NBA Europe, remaining loyal to EuroLeague… which never offered them a permanent license.
Tony Parker, a key asset to attract NBA Europe
According to Le Progrès, last Tuesday’s meeting in London allowed Tony Parker and his team to make a « giant step » towards joining the very exclusive circle of twelve founding franchises of NBA Europe.
Alongside European sports giants – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Milan, Fenerbahçe, and PSG – the Villeurbanne club would benefit from its president’s global reputation as a four-time NBA champion and Hall of Fame member.
As NBA ambassador preparing for its expansion on the Old Continent, Parker appears as a key figure in this future semi-closed league, which could revolutionize European basketball.
ALBA Berlin leaves EuroLeague for Basketball Champions League!
May 7, 2025
Alexandre Lacoste
A historic turning point for French basketball
While the club is going through a difficult period marked by economic setbacks linked to its shaky Smart Good Things and Skweek partnerships, this shift could give ASVEL major growth momentum.
Le Progrès mentions « exposure that should make the club’s valuation explode » even if the entry ticket, announced at 500 million dollars, seems unreachable. For Tony Parker, recently bereaved by his father’s passing, this NBA Europe project prospect could well represent the fulfillment of his long-term vision for Villeurbanne: making ASVEL a global basketball brand.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve est le fondateur et rédacteur en chef de BeBasket, qu’il anime depuis 2010 (sous le nom de Catch & Shoot). Passé par l’Ecole Publique de Journaliste de Tours, puis deux universités en Amérique du Nord, il a pu développer son expertise sur le basket français, de la Ligue Nationale aux divisions amateurs, durant ces 20 dernières années. En parallèle, il est aussi engagé dans le développement de clubs du côté de Montpellier.
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