What if French basketball won the two main European Cups this season? The hypothesis would have seemed completely absurd last summer, but in this radiant spring it is a real possibility. Already because Mike James’ AS Monaco, semi-finalist of the Euroleague last season, is now a candidate taken seriously in the race for the Final Four, with its third place overall before a final match on Thursday against Bayern Munich.
But above all, and the big odds are there, because for the first time in its history, two French clubs, Paris and Bourg-en-Bresse, will meet in the final of the Eurocup, the second most prestigious cup in Europe .
The two revelations of our Betclic Elite, 2nd and 4th respectively, are the true symbol of the good health of French basketball. With modest budgets on a European scale but both banking on the ideal coach to get the best out of their squad.
Zaccharie Risacher, from JL Bourg to the NBA
When he arrived in Paris last summer, the young Finn Tuomas Iisalo (41) saved time by taking with him six players from his previous club Bonn (Germany). Result: a possible hat-trick from the start, after winning the Leaders Cup to everyone’s surprise in February. As for TJ Parker’s former assistant at Asvel Frédéric Fauthoux, he lifted Bourg to 5th place in the championship in his first season, before offering JL Bourg an incredible European epic, with the main revelation being the winger trained at Asvel Zaccharie Risacher (19 years old), announced in the Top 5 of the next NBA Draft.
Before the first episode (of a best-of-three-match series), this Tuesday (8:30 p.m.) at the Adidas Arena in Paris, located Porte de la Chapelle (8,000 seats), one of the challenges will be to see next season the France has three representatives in the Euroleague. Namely Asvel, 17th out of 18 this year but which benefits from an A license almost ensuring its place until 2031, the formidable AS Monaco, and therefore the winner of this 100% French Eurocup final. It would be unheard of, even if it is not yet at all ready, especially if Bourg were to defy the predictions, by winning without the advantage of the field.
“The wild card” for the Euroleague makes Paris dream
Clearly, Paris Basketball, created in 2018 (then in Pro B) by American businessmen Eric Schwarz and David Kahn, openly aims to join the premier competition, and it has given itself the means to do so, with its significant increase in budget (9.2 million euros, or +43% compared to 2022-2023). “When I think back to the first years of the club, to these matches at the not-at-all-full Halle Carpentier or even at Rueil-Malmaison, there is reason to be proud of the progress we have made,” relishes Parisian winger Gauthier Denis . The latter, like its leaders, dreams of benefiting from the “wild card” promised to the winner of this Eurocup.
Except that the Bressan club is not at all certain of accepting what could seem like a poisoned chalice, given its small means (€7.3 million budget) and its Ekinox room with 3,500 seats, far from fulfill the demanding specifications of the Euroleague. In the meantime, JL Bourg also wants to make the most of the first European final in its history. A story that will last a long time with Fred Fauthoux, who just extended his lease last weekend until 2027.
“That’s the beauty of sport”
Finalist in the Leaders Cup, semi-finalist in the championship and eighth finalist in the Eurocup for his first season at the club, Bourg climbs another notch this year, and is aiming for his first trophy. “These are great moments,” smiles winger Maxime Courby. Even if I had written the story before, I wouldn’t have written it so beautifully. Nine years ago, we were struggling in Pro B, and now we find ourselves in the Eurocup final. It’s crazy, that’s the beauty of sport. »
“We’re a bit like Little Thumb but we play very well basketball, we have a healthy group, who give it their all, the club is very well structured and it advances at its own pace,” summarizes Frédéric Fauthoux. “Between passion and reason”, Bressan president Julien Desbottes wants to leave himself the possibility of choosing whether he throws himself into the Euroleague adventure, knowing that a possible refusal would not necessarily benefit the Parisian finalist. But first there is a final to be played (this Tuesday in Paris, Friday in Bourg, and next Monday if necessary in Paris). “Two French teams in the Eurocup final, it’s unique,” concludes Frédéric Fauthoux. It’s a very good image, for everything that French basketball represents. »