Will Adama Bal be impacted by Abdoulaye Ndoye’s arrival in Strasbourg?
Betclic ELITE - With Abdoulaye Ndoye's surprise arrival at SIG Strasbourg on Monday, Adama Bal's position becomes vulnerable in a now overcrowded backcourt roster.
Photo Credit : Victor Lecomte
Adama Bal (6’7″, 21 years old) joining SIG Strasbourg was meant to mark the beginning of his professional career in Europe after his NCAA journey. However, between a quiet preseason and ongoing recruitment, his immediate future in Strasbourg could be in question.
SIG Strasbourg now at 11 pros
The addition of Abdoulaye Ndoye (6’6″, 27 years old) brings the number of professional players in SIG’s roster to 11. With this depth, Adama Bal, despite being anticipated by Strasbourg fans following his notable stint at Santa Clara and his U20 European title in 2023, risks seeing his role reduced.
The player from Sarthe was presented as one of the key offseason acquisitions, chosen by Nicola Alberani and the technical staff to represent Alsace’s new generation. However, with only 3.4 points on 23% three-point shooting, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 18 minutes per game during preseason, management seems to have doubts about him.
A career to launch
After four college seasons in the United States (Arizona then Santa Clara), Adama Bal chose SIG Strasbourg to transition into professional basketball. His potential is recognized: a capable scorer with explosive ability, twice selected to the West Coast Conference (WCC) first team and U20 European champion, he remains one of the most promising young French guards in Betclic ELITE.
However, in a roster with multiplying backcourt options, competition might lead him to consider external solutions to establish himself, rather than staying confined to a marginal role.
A situation to monitor
Present at training this Tuesday, Bal remains an integral part of the group. But SIG Strasbourg’s recent history of mid-season roster changes leaves room for doubt. For the young guard, it’s time to quickly find either a role or an exit strategy to fulfill his professional ambitions.
SIG Strasbourg’s 2025-2026 roster:
- Backcourt: Marcus Keene, Adama Bal, Jean-Baptiste Maille and Mike Davis Jr
- Wings: Abdoulaye Ndoye, Gabe Brown and Ben Gregg
- Inside: Nelly Junior Joseph, Fousseyni Traoré, Jahel Trefle and William Pfister
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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