Cole, Yabusele and Bako in turn leave the club … Villeurbanne must continue without seven French champions

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Stability is rarely the order of the day in French basketball. Proof of this is once again with Asvel, which has already lost seven of its French champion players, only two weeks after his coronation obtained in Rouen (87-74 against Dijon). After the official departures of Moustapha Fall (Olympiakos), Thomas Heurtel (Real Madrid), Kevarrius Hayes (Bursaspor) and Amine Noua (Andorra), the club chaired by Tony Parker will have to do without three other titled players.

Particularly decisive in the Jeep Elite final against Dijon (20 points), the American leader Norris Cole (32) thus leaves Villeurbanne, as the club formalized on Sunday. “He showed flawless professionalism and an exemplary mentality throughout his year in Villeurbanne,” said the press release published by Asvel, where the former double NBA champion with Miami had quickly had a big impact .

Victor Wembanyama and Elie Okobo as main recruits

Under contract just like Norris Cole until 2022, the leaping Belgian interior Ismaël Bako (25) also left the Rhône prematurely, after having “played his best basketball during the Final Four in Rouen”. The destination of these two players has not yet been formalized, unlike that of Guerschon Yabusele. Announced leaving for several weeks, the strong winger of the Blues has been a Real Madrid player since Monday.

This is another major loss for Asvel, which must as a priority rebuild its entire interior sector. Only the American Raymar Morgan (32 years old, Pinar Karsiyaka) and the promising Victor Wembanyama (17 years old, 2.19 m, Nanterre) have so far arrived in the Villeurbanne racquet. The site is therefore above all there on the side of the French champion, who finally managed to keep David Lighty but also Antoine Diot, while attracting the former tricolor back of the Phoenix Suns Elie Okobo (23 years).





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