Looking for a team, Charles Kahudi is training partner at Élan Chalon
August 23, 2025
Lilian Bordron
Chalon: Uncertainty remains about Chris Johnson
Betclic ELITE - Injured and arriving late for preseason, Chris Johnson has not yet passed the medical examination with Élan Chalon. Could this jeopardize his spot on the 2025-2026 roster?
Photo Credit : Jacques Cormarèche
Former BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque and JL Bourg player, Chris Johnson (1.98 m, 35 years old) was supposed to return to the French championship in 2025-2026, this time playing for Élan Chalon. However, the power forward/small forward is not operational. So much so that his presence in the Burgundian roster is questionable for the upcoming season.
In a video shared by the Chalon club’s communication team, coach Elric Delord doesn’t avoid the subject: the forward wasn’t present at the start of training due to a misunderstanding. More importantly, he admits that Johnson hasn’t yet passed the medical examination, which explains his absence from training.
« Chris arrived a bit late due to poor communication between his agents and us, » explains the Périgord coach. « So he arrived a few days late and hasn’t yet received medical clearance to participate in training. So, it’s under examination, in process to try to find the best solution for everyone. »
The Charles Kahudi Option
According to our information, Élan Chalon has already started looking for a power forward/small forward in the market, suggesting a start of the season (or perhaps the entire season?) without Chris Johnson in their ranks. The team is however benefiting from the presence of Charles Kahudi (1.99 m, 39 years old) during preparation to maintain a logical balance, as the former French international is also a power forward/small forward. But the former ASVEL captain doesn’t necessarily fit the profile the staff is looking for.
« Charles contacted me because he wanted to get back to team training, » explains Elric Delord. « I know Charles very well. We spent several years together at ASVEL. We were in a phase at the start of preparation: Chris Johnson couldn’t train, we have Jeremiah (Hill) with Cameroon, we have Nate (Darling) with Canada, so we’re missing professional players. We were also missing some young players: Yanis (Tonnellier) was slightly injured on his thumb, so he started training a few days late. Whether it’s Klark (Riethauser), Jelani (Kante), other players afterward, who normally are supposed to train with the pro group and weren’t available, for various reasons. So Charles came at the perfect time for us, to integrate him into training; which allowed us to have a few more people at training, and to be able to start things. So he’s good – I think – with us, everything’s going well, which is great. He should even play in the preparation matches at the Colisée this weekend. […] With Charles, it’s a bit give and take. He helps us, we help him, and everything’s fine. »
This Friday August 29 at 7 PM, Élan Chalon faces SCABB before playing against Geneva Lions on Saturday August 30, also at 7 PM.
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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