Former ASVEL player to replace Kevarrius Hayes in Paris!

Ismael Bako (2.08m, 29 years old) is about to return to EuroLeague with Paris Basketball. According to BasketNews, the Parisian club is close to signing the Belgian international center to replace Kevarrius Hayes, who left the capital for Monaco.

An experienced reinforcement for Paris Basketball

Like in 2024 with Kevarrius Hayes, Paris Basketball is turning to a former ASVEL center to protect their rim. According to BasketNews, Ismael Bako (2.08m, 29 years old) is close to signing with the Parisian club. The Belgian international played for UNICS Kazan in the past two seasons, where he averaged 9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Previously with ASVEL between 2019 and 2021, where he won the championship and French Cup in 2021, Ismael Bako also experienced EuroLeague with Virtus Bologna. In 2022-23, he demonstrated his defensive impact: with him on the court, the team conceded 11.5 fewer points per 100 possessions. That season, he averaged 6.1 points with 67% shooting on 2-pointers, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 15 minutes per game.

Paris aims for new defensive leap

In a roster reshaped to fully embrace the EuroLeague challenge, Ismael Bako is expected to play a major role in Paris’s frontcourt. His mobility, rim protection ability, and high-level European experience perfectly address the needs left by Kevarrius Hayes’s departure.

With a resume including stints at ASVEL, Manresa, Virtus, and Kazan, plus an established role with the Belgian national team since 2016, the Leuven native has solid high-level experience. In Paris, he could find a competitive environment to restart his EuroLeague career and help the club maintain its standing.