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Ngijol Songolo: Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada has declared for the NBA Draft. He just finished his first pro season in France with SLUC Nancy averaging 6 PPG in 13 MPG after a standout youth career in their program. Also represented France at the U19 World Cup.
The future of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in the EuroLeague remains uncertain as the European basketball landscape continues to shift. Despite speculation about a possible exit, club officials stated during an ECA Board meeting that they intend to stay in the competition next season, a stance strengthened by plans for Tony Parker to take over as head coach. However, Parker’s public support of the Europe NEXT event, tied to the NBA’s investor summit in London, has created tension among shareholders, with some now favoring a departure due to the mixed direction
France has been officially announced as the host nation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2031, marking a major milestone for international basketball and reinforcing the country’s growing reputation as a global hub for major sporting events. The tournament will be staged across three iconic cities—Paris, Lille, and Lyon—bringing world-class basketball action to some of France’s most vibrant urban centers. The decision highlights France’s proven ability to organize large-scale international competitions, following the success of recent high-profile events such as the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games. With state-of-the-art arenas, efficient transport networks, and a passionate sports culture, the country is well-positioned to deliver a memorable tournament for players, fans, and stakeholders alike.
Maxine Aubin: Victor Wembanyama on being told he couldn’t play defense at 14: “When I was in my first year in the academy in France, I had the reputation as someone who did not play defense. One day, the opponent coach said: ‘Oh yeah, he’s a NBA prospect, but he can’t play defense. So attack him.’ So I took that personally… And the rest is history 😏”
Morant and Catch12, his media and business venture company, have purchased a stake in the Levallois Metropolitans French basketball team, ClutchPoints has been told. Over the last couple of years, the NBA and FIBA have quickly progressed towards a partnership to bring a new basketball league to Europe. Morant and his team have been monitoring those conversations, and the minority ownership signals Morant’s interest building out his business portfolio outside of traditional means.
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“I’m excited about how this first season with the Metros is going,” Ja Morant told ClutchPoints. “They represent the culture, just like we do. I like what we are building and hopefully we get to take it into NBA Europe.”
Now, Raynaud is eager to carry that momentum into the national team, confirming his availability for France ahead of the upcoming FIBA windows. “I’ve seen Boris (Diaw) several times during the season. The roster hasn’t been announced yet, so I don’t know anything for sure, but it seems like they are considering me for the FIBA windows. I would be very happy to take part. Representing the French national team is a unique opportunity,” Raynaud said per L’Equipe’s Maxime Aubin.
According to many sources close to the bidding process, the interest for the NBA project is coming mainly from US funds, that are aiming for the UK and Rome, while there’s also local interest for Paris. Due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Arabian funds are currently more reluctant. However, there’s money on the table, even if everyone agrees at this point that nobody is willing to pay a 500M fee to enter the new league.
Rudy Gobert: So I have a small apartment in Paris. So in the summer, I try to spend a lot of time in France too, because it’s the only time when I can really do it. But I also really like it there. I still have the house in Utah, so I have everything I need there. I have a half basketball court, a weight room, a pool. Before every season, I spend a few weeks in Utah.” Interviewer: “Okay. Because of the altitude too?” Rudy Gobert: “Yeah. So, for the oxygen…” Interviewer: “You’re always chasing performance, even on vacation.” Rudy Gobert: “Well, listen, I’m teasing, but yes, it’s true. That’s it. I really appreciate the place already, but on top of that, the fact that there are benefits that help me with my performance, my career, and my longevity—well, it’s all upside. It’s important.”
According to the French newspaper “L’Equipe”, PSG and QSI are expected to submit a bid to get an NBA Europe franchise. The company confirmed that it is working “positively and actively” on submitting a bid without giving any other details. This is a development that can’t be considered surprising, since the NBA has long made Paris a priority in its European plans, and even recently, PSG minority owner Kevin Durant discussed the matter.
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Maxime Aubin: The funny thing is that he’s become such a big star that everything he does, and everything he doesn’t do, creates headlines. As a reporter, it’s interesting to see readers reach out to me. A lot of them say he’s amazing, he’s French, and they’re proud of him. But there are also a lot of people in France who still say, ‘This guy has done nothing in basketball. Where is this hype coming from? Why? He hasn’t won anything.’ That comes back every time. I think it’s part of the star system, because he’s already huge. At the same time, it’s also part of French culture: the criticism, the idea of saying, ‘Don’t do too much. Don’t become that big of a star yet.’ So yeah, it’s interesting to watch, because a lot of people still criticize him.” Host: “So there are French haters. There are haters in France, basically.” Maxime Aubin: “A lot. I actually think there are even more in France than in the U.S.”
RC Buford: “I think it was it wasn't intentional just on France. I think it was more intentional in 1999 when 97 we get Tim Duncan. We already had David Robinson. We won our first championship in 1999 and we believed that we were going to be good for a while while those guys were going to play together. And that being the case, we needed to we were going to draft at the end of the first round. And if we were drafting at the end of the first round and we were just watching American college players, we'd be drafting a player that 25 other teams would have passed on. And so we became intentional about let's get in gyms where other people aren't and start looking for players differently than maybe the league was at the time. And it really fit the way Pop wanted to coach. He wanted to team build with a very internationally diverse group of people so that we could all learn together."
Silver wants to put new teams in London, Paris, Rome, and Manchester, England, backed by soccer giants and the biggest investment funds in the world (the Saudi PIF has expressed interest). Existing clubs with similar financial backing are being targeted in Barcelona and Madrid, in Milan, in Athens and Istanbul, Berlin and Munich, and Lyon, France. If Silver is (and in all likelihood, he will be) successful in bringing this new league on line, current NBA players said, overwhelmingly, they would consider, some day, playing in NBA Europe. “Yeah, it would interest me a little bit. I think that’s pretty cool,” said Charlotte rookie and Rising Star Kon Knueppel.
Maxime Aubin: Victor Wembanyama told @SoFrenchProd he plans to join Team France this summer for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers (July 3-6, then Aug. 24-Sept. 1): “Of course, that’s absolutely my goal,” Wemby said. “But I hope I won’t be able to make the first window — that would mean we went all the way to the NBA Finals. I hope the timing will be too tight (smiles). But for the August window, absolutely. That’s my goal to be there. Knock on wood, if I’m healthy.”