Kenny Grant, new Le Portel coach: « ESSM is not a club where you just come to play »
Betclic ELITE - Appointed head coach of ESSM Le Portel following the club's maintenance in Betclic ELITE, Kenny Grant gave an interview to La Voix du Nord. The former point guard who played for Nancy discusses his project, his vision of the game, and states he's not worried about the northern club's limited resources.
Photo Credit : Cécile Thomas
As the new face leading Le Portel, Kenny Grant succeeds Eric Girard, the club’s iconic coach of 14 seasons. From the French Riviera, where he currently resides, the former Aix-Maurienne coach shared with La Voix du Nord his vision for the Portel club’s future. Despite financial constraints, Kenny Grant says he’s confident and determined to build a coherent and attractive project.
An assertive offensive style
Kenny Grant comes from a notable season at Aix-Maurienne in Pro B, with a team that finished as the league’s best offense and best in evaluation ratings. He plans to bring this offensive playing philosophy to Le Portel:
« My game is oriented toward offense, I think it’s much more enjoyable to play up-tempo with many possessions, where the ball lives. […] I won’t do what Eric Girard did, that’s for sure, but I’m aware that to win, you also need to defend. »
Mindful of his predecessor’s legacy, he commends Eric Girard’s work: « Maintaining this club in the Elite for 10 years, what he managed to do is truly incredible. »
Recruitment focused on character
While ESSM cannot compete financially with other Elite clubs, Kenny Grant says he’s not worried. With market experience gained alongside his father, a former coach and agent, he primarily focuses on the human aspect: « One of the major keys in recruitment is that a player’s character is as important as their basketball skills. ESSM isn’t a club where you just come to play, there’s something more around it. »
He intends to build a team invested in both the collective project and local life: « I plan to recruit players who understand that. When a team just thinks about going home, you’re going to have a difficult season. » The first recruit was announced this Saturday, with the arrival of Croatian Filip Kruslin. Additionally, the former Swedish international has brought in assistant coach Vladimir Nestorovic, who was already his deputy at Aix-Maurienne, and will also work with assistant Arnaud Ricoux, who remains under contract until June 30, 2026. However, the other assistant Karim Diop has been released.
A career marked by transmission
Son of Kenny Grant Sr, a player and then coach in the 70s-80s, Kenny Grant was nurtured by a family history centered on basketball. After playing NCAA at Davidson – where he was replaced the following year by a certain Stephen Curry – he built his career in France before transitioning to coaching, notably in the staffs of Antibes and Monaco, then at Denain and finally Aix-Maurienne.
Today, at 43, he’s ready to take on a major challenge in Betclic ELITE with Le Portel, in an expanded role including management and recruitment. The Portel adventure begins with ambition, humility, and the desire to build a team that reflects its new coach: offensive, committed, and united.
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