Joel Bolomboy arrives to become the boss of ASVEL’s paint
After the loan of Nick Weiler-Babb to Red Star Belgrade and the arrival of Patty Mills, ASVEL continues to reshuffle its roster. The Villeurbanne club officially announced this Tuesday, August 11, the signing for two seasons of Joel Bolomboy (6’8″, 32 years old), whose arrival had been settled behind the scenes for several weeks.
At 32, the former CSKA Moscow, Olympiacos, and Red Star Belgrade big man has by far one of the most extensive resumes in the Villeurbanne frontcourt. But his signing also comes with some uncertainty after several seasons marked by ups, downs, and injuries. In a frontcourt also made up of Bodian Massa, Mbaye Ndiaye, Yves Pons, and Nate Sestina, ASVEL will need to find a Bolomboy capable of taking on a major role, as he only played 33 EuroLeague games out of 76 over the past two seasons.
Welcome Joel Bolomboy! 🔥
LDLC ASVEL is happy to announce the signing of Joel Bolomboy for the next two seasons.
The 32-year-old power forward joins the club with an athletic profile and solid European experience. He will bring LDLC ASVEL his energy, his… pic.twitter.com/qoLcpVnxvl
— LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) August 11, 2026
Joel Bolomboy signs two seasons with ASVEL
His arrival is now official. Joel Bolomboy has signed until 2028 with ASVEL, despite a deal that saw several twists over the past few weeks. Malaga had notably been mentioned as a suitor, but the big man, who had signed a very advantageous contract with Villeurbanne, was not willing to give it up.
The club gets a player with 204 EuroLeague games under his belt. After his college career at Weber State, Bolomboy went through the NBA and G-League before settling into the European scene long-term. He notably won the 2019 EuroLeague with CSKA Moscow, as well as two VTB League titles in 2019 and 2021. He then moved to Olympiacos, with whom he completed the Cup-League double in 2023, before spending his recent seasons at Red Star Belgrade.
“Joel Bolomboy will bring ASVEL his energy, his versatility, and his immediate impact in the paint”, the club announced in its statement.
ASVEL will need the best version of Joel Bolomboy
On paper, Bolomboy brings exactly what ASVEL needs: power, mobility, EuroLeague experience, and the ability to have an impact near the rim. His recent path, however, calls for caution, as several injuries have disrupted his continuity at the highest level. He had to wait until matchday 25 of the regular season to start his European season last year.
In Villeurbanne, his role should be central. Tony Parker’s frontcourt has several complementary profiles but few players with as much European pedigree. Bodian Massa still needs to prove himself at this level, while Yves Pons brings mainly his athletic and defensive qualities. Mbaye Ndiaye also offers real defensive impact and can play several positions. Nate Sestina, meanwhile, offers a different profile as a power forward capable of spacing the floor with his outside shooting.
In this setup, Bolomboy appears to be the player around whom the frontcourt will need to be built. A status that makes his physical condition and his ability to regain continuity particularly important for ASVEL.
Joel Bolomboy, a key piece of ASVEL’s new roster
This official announcement comes in the middle of an important week for the Villeurbanne rebuild. After scrapping the project based on an estimated budget of 59 million euros and returning to a budget of around 24 million, Tony Parker must finish a largely reworked roster.
Nick Weiler-Babb’s departure to Red Star was officially announced as a loan, while Patty Mills came in to strengthen a backcourt that still needs to be completed.
At this stage, ASVEL can count on Both Gach, Edwin Jackson, Patty Mills, Mbaye Ndiaye, Yves Pons, Nate Sestina, Bodian Massa, and now Joel Bolomboy among the main pieces of its professional roster.
The rebuild is therefore not finished. But with Patty Mills on the perimeter and Joel Bolomboy in the paint, Tony Parker now has two very experienced players around whom to build his team. For Bolomboy, the main challenge will be finding enough continuity to justify that status.
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