Monaco kicks off its season between XXL ambitions and turbulent times

AS Monaco set the tone this Tuesday, September 16: despite a bumpy offseason and a 2024-2025 season without trophies (but reaching their first EuroLeague final), the Roca Team is on the offensive. Structural issues (arena, EuroLeague status) are expected to progress, while the experienced and deep roster is calibrated to handle both Betclic ELITE and EuroLeague. If everyone is aligned – management, staff and players…

A turbulent offseason… but an XXL roster

Between departure requests, late recruits, and an incomplete roster during a short preseason without the traditional Bormio camp, Monaco didn’t have a smooth summer. However, on paper, the team is well-armed for this new season: Nikola Mirotic, Kevarrius Hayes, Nemanja Nedovic, Yoan Makoundou’s return and David Michineau’s signing add to a solid foundation. Regarding departures, the club mainly lost Georgios Papagiannis before recording other exits.

Will Loyd, Motiejunas and Calathes stay with Monaco this season?

Monaco’s management emphasized continuity, noting that « recruitment began during last season » with the desire to maintain the core group, symbolized by Alpha Diallo’s extension. Regarding arrivals, Oleksiy Yefimov clarified that Yoan Makoundou shouldn’t be considered a new player: returning after two seasons as a foreign player, the French forward has toughened up and must now bring his physical power, rim protection ability and sense of sacrifice, particularly in setting screens to free up guards. Nemanja Nedovic is identified as an elite shooter, capable of scoring « off screens » and taking crucial shots in clutch moments. David Michineau comes to strengthen the backcourt and provide additional rotations, especially in the French championship. Kevarrius Hayes complements the frontcourt with his athletic profile: rim protector and fearsome finisher above the rim, particularly on alley-oops.

With these additions, the club believes it has built a deep roster, designed to withstand the pace of a 20-team EuroLeague and its double-weeks, while promoting healthy internal competition to elevate everyone’s game.

According to our information, the roster could still evolve: although present Tuesday morning in Monaco for his medical examination, Jordan Loyd is set to leave for Anadolu Efes Istanbul for a transfer fee. Also present in preseason, Donatas Motiejunas and Nick Calathes are no longer really in the plans, and the Lithuanian center is already drawing interest from several EuroLeague teams.

Mike James, still here… but in what state of mind?

Amid these movements, Mike James’s presence raises questions. Suspended at the end of last season, announced to be leaving before a « true-false » extension, the American point guard finally stayed and resumed training last week, before playing two preparation games in Cyprus. The question remains about his mindset for this new season.

« Mike is back, and I would say Mike is really motivated, and we are all motivated. »

President Aleksej Fedoricsev also specified that the captaincy would be decided by the players themselves, indicating that James’s leadership, which could have been contested, isn’t being questioned after all.

Ever-higher ambitions

After a season without titles but marked by their first EuroLeague final, Monaco isn’t hiding its intentions: to take another step forward. President Aleksej Fedorycsev reminded that the experience of failure should serve as motivation: « It’s not so easy to become Europe’s second-best team. But I truly believe our players aren’t just competitors, they’re winners. Our goal is to go even further than last year. »

GM Oleksiy Yefimov shared the same message, emphasizing the need to aim high on all fronts: « Yes, we didn’t win any titles last year, but reaching the EuroLeague final was a great achievement. This season, we want to take one step further, both in the French championship and EuroLeague. »

EuroLeague License: a burning issue

While Monaco has the means to compete sportively, its place in EuroLeague remains fragile. The club currently only has a one-year license. Oleksiy Yefimov reminded that the project’s future depends on the arena and full shareholder status.

« We clearly see the path we’re going to follow. Of course, it’s linked to our arena project. That’s one of the main challenges. But we’re investing heavily in the team, the president and top management are working with the same heart to achieve our strategic objectives. These objectives are the licenses, and becoming a permanent shareholder like other clubs and benefiting from the same conditions. »

Heading to SuperCup

Before starting Betclic ELITE and an expanded 20-team EuroLeague, Monaco will be in Paris this weekend for the SuperCup. First full-scale test for a Roca Team that knows that, this season more than ever, each victory will count both on the court and in EuroLeague offices. It will also be an opportunity to win a first trophy, after going 0/4 last season, even though with the late arrival of Vassilis Spanoulis (this Wednesday) and Daniel Theis, who played until Sunday at EuroBasket, the team won’t be fully ready.

In Monaco,