how Paris Basketball, new to the Euroleague, became the unexpected leader

The Parisian club, founded in 2018, has established itself this season as one of the best in Europe for its very first participation in the competition.

By beating Maccabi Tel-Aviv (93-81) in Belgrade on Tuesday December 3, Paris Basketball achieved more than a victory. The new darling of French basketball won her ninth consecutive victory in the Euroleague, something no French club had managed to accomplish before her. As a bonus, Tiago Splitter’s players became the sole leaders of the competition, taking advantage of Fenerbahçe’s defeat in Vitoria.

The performance was all the more remarkable as the young Parisian club is experiencing its very first Euroleague campaign, for which it is invited. Before entering the big leagues, President David Kahn had explained to Figaro [article payant] that the decision to accept or not this invitation had been “difficile” to take, because taking part introduces a degree of financial risk. This is also why Gran Canaria, winner of the 2023 Eurocup, declined the invitation last season.

“We obviously aspire to be competitive, [mais] I think our fans, our supporters, our partners understand that we are young and that there will be evenings where it will be a little complicated”warned the latter, not wishing to harbor disproportionate expectations. “Having ambitions in the Euroleague means selling dreamssupported at the same time Alex Requena, the vice-president in charge of club strategy, at the microphone of RMC Sport. It wouldn’t be realistic to say that we want to play in the Euroleague playoffs.”.

It must be said that Paris Basketball was still playing in Pro B during the 2020-2021 financial year and has only existed as a professional club since 2018. Its trajectory is surprising, but the growth is linear. For its first season in Betclic Elite, the Parisian team obtained its continuation with a 15th place, then rose to 9th place the following season, before competing in the final of the 2023-2024 season, lost against Monaco.

It was with a budget doubled (from 9.2 to 18.8 million euros) that Paris began this season, in a brand new venue, the Adidas Arena (8,000 seats). A significant progression which, however, is not enough to explain the jump made this fall. “The wage bill is significantly higher than last year, at least 70% more. But some clubs pay a single player more than our entire squad”emphasizes Figaro David Kahn, ex-president of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA (2009-2013).

“Our style of play from last season is the one we want every year, it will not change. We want fast, exciting and fierce basketball on the defensive level.”

David Kahn, president of Paris Basketball

au Figaro

Despite the unexpected departure in the offseason of Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo, who became an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA, the continuity of the sports project was ensured. For Pape-Philippe Amagou, former French basketball champion and consultant for France Télévisions, this plays a big part in the club’s success. “Even if he brings his touch, Tiago Splitter had the intelligence not to change everything. He relied on a group that lived well and on a hard core of players, on the former winners of the German championship. He kept an up tempo rhythm, with lots of intensity and changes on the fly”he observes.

Paris Basketball indeed offers a frenetic game, made of risk-taking. If he scored more than 103 points at FC Barcelona, ​​it is anything but a coincidence. After the first 13 games of the Euroleague regular season, he sits in first place in offensive rebounds taken per game (12.8) and third in three-point shots attempted (29.3 per game). ). To better manage the consequences of this energy-intensive style of play, Tiago Splitter uses a large number of rotations. Against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, 11 of the 12 players on the scoresheet played more than 10 minutes.

16 minutes of play were enough for French international leader Nadir Hifi to try his luck at three points nine times (three converted). The one who hoped to join the NBA this season, having participated in the Summer League, remained one of the leaders of the team alongside TJ Shorts. This American pocket leader (1.75 m), naturalized Macedonian in 2022, has been the X factor of Paris Basketball since Tuomas Iisalo brought him in his suitcases from Bonn in 2023.

Named Euroleague Player of the Month for November, Shorts is averaging 18.4 points and 7.8 assists per game this season. “He is a natural leader, with incredible charisma. He shines through the entire group and if there is an individuality to stand out, it’s him”notes Pape-Philippe Amagou, conquered. However, be careful not to individualize the success of Paris Basket too much: “The band is amazingunderlines the consultant. He is at the same time concerned, committed, rigorous, and at the same time, we feel lightness and relaxation. We see it in the way they check each other [se saluent] before the matches. As soon as the gong rings, they all go into ‘warrior’ mode, all ready to do the hard work for others.”.

“The club is ambitious, structured, with a top management who has never hidden its ambitions. A few years ago, when it was in Pro B, they talked to us about the Euroleague and that made everyone smile, but the club has a real strategy.”

Pape-Philippe Amagou, former player four times French champion

at franceinfo: sport

“We’re in a jam but we must not take ourselves for the masters of the world. We can say what we want, but our priority remains the championship”tempers sports director Amara Sy in the columns of Figaro [article payant]. Himself “wouldn’t have believed it” if he had been told that Paris Basketball would at least temporarily occupy first place in the Euroleague this year. “It’s normal that he is so careful in his communication, but they say that appetite comes with eating, Pape-Philippe Amagou analysis. Given the results, it would be a big disappointment not to make the playoffs. It doesn’t happen every season.” to be in such a good position.