-By David Loriot
Forced to revise its plans and ambitions downward, Asvel began its recovery last Wednesday, following a turbulent summer, with a team not yet complete but with strengthened motivation and a clear determination from Tony Parker and his team to stay united.
At the end of June, Tony Parker outlined Asvel's ambitions: a budget of €59 million worthy of the EuroLeague's greats, top players on the court (Francisco, Theis, Brooks, Weiler-Babb), and the Buss family approaching to elevate his club to another level. Then the National Directorate of Council and Management Control (DNCCG) stepped in, a Malaysian fund, IBH, did not please everyone, andThe beautiful castle collapsed on its foundations., its president inevitably finding their credibility affected.
Forced return to the "ordinary," with a budget of €24 million nonetheless. But above all, the need to rebuild a team from top to bottom in a few weeks to meet the challenge and quell the fire of criticism for the upcoming season. This is how Parker and his staff launched, last Wednesday, the first collective training session of Asvel 2026-2027, in a rebellious and combative mode.
At the release, "TP" was sharpening its fangs:"It's a super motivated group that matches my motivation because I am more motivated than ever., exclaimed the president-coach of the Villeurbanne club.We are really united. What happened this summer created this feeling: we’re going to go to war all together! We’re in the bubble. We let people talk, and we’ll see at the end of the season. We need to work, establish our processes, our culture, and little by little, it will bear fruit.
However, time is no longer an ally. Even though, according to the EuroLeague regulations, Asvel could not begin collective training before August 19, many pieces were missing from the quickly reassembled puzzle on Wednesday for the resumption at the Tony Parker Adéquat Academy. Thus, Patty Mills, Myles Cale, and Jae Crowder have not yet set foot on Lyon soil, and the duo Yves Pons-Both Gach is currently under the national banner.
But things are falling into place and the roster is almost complete. David Lighty has been confirmed in his role as a player for the next season:"I can't control everything that's being said, but it was decided from the beginning that he would do one last year with us.", notify Parker.Hugo BessonHe officially joined the roster, while the two point guards, TyTy Washington and Tremont Waters, are on the doorstep of the team. Finally, if Monaco does not return to Betclic Élite, Mathis Dossou-Yovo -"a very interesting profile, a player we like a lot", admits "TP" - should be the sixth homegrown player (locally trained player) of the club.
Soon an agreement with the Buss brothers?
In a few weeks, the Villeurbanne club has tried to fill the gap of frustration as best and as quickly as possible, while continuing to set its sights high. Because, for Parker, the goal has not changed. The "big picture," as he calls it, remains the same, and the outlines of the future Asvel even seem to be taking shape quite quickly in recent days."The most important thing is that we succeed in the overall project.""I have no doubt that we will finalize,"He indicates, without elaborating on the subject, bound by confidentiality clauses.
But it seems quite clear today that the Buss brothers, Joey and Jesse, are at the forefront to buy the majority of the shares. Their interest in the Rhone club is proven. During their visit to Lyon last week, the siblings even toured the facilities."I can't go into details, but it went very well.""Just slide, Parker. Now remains to find a financial agreement, which the current shareholders of Villeurbanne would like to set at around €100 million for the sale. An agreement by the end of September is not inconceivable."
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In the meantime, Parker mainly put on his coach's hat this week, ahead of a first "scrimmage" against Saint-Chamond on August 28."I want to build good habits, in attack and defense."...summarizes the former Spurs leader, who agreed to a significant pay cut (from just over €1M annually mentioned in the XXL format with a €59M budget to around €200,000) to keep his entire staff."It's important that my entire coaching staff is there. He doesn't have to endure what happened.", he justifies.
Last Wednesday, alongside him, Vincent Collet was there, in an association that brought back memories."It reminds me of our years in the French team where we had a special relationship, leader-coach.says the former captain of the Blues.It comes at the right time for him, as for me."We have achieved many things together. I hope we can continue."But before dreaming again, Asvel will have to fight.
