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Tony Parker has confirmed a rebuilding phase for ASVEL Villeurbanne. In a long interview with Le Progrès, the team president listed multiple departures: Neal Sako is heading to Valencia after using his EuroLeague out clause, while Théo Maledon has reportedly signed a “big contract” in Madrid. Paris Lee and Joffrey Lauvergne are considered too expensive to retain, and André Roberson, who Parker “would love to keep”, is unlikely to stay due to rising EuroLeague salaries and the influence of Dubai-based teams.
The president of FIBA Europe, Jorge Garbajosa, and Luis Scola were in Madrid for the Sport Summit 2025 and talked about the NBA Europe plans and other basketball issues in Europe. “The foundations have been laid,” started Garbajosa,“Basketball wants to be the most practiced sport in the world.” “The NBA sees a weakness in Europe,” he added. “The national team is the most important thing in sports, but without the clubs there is nothing,” he pointed out, “We must strengthen domestic leagues, because that’s where the best players will come from.” “What can’t be happening is that the national leagues are not linked to the best European competition,” he furthered, “The good thing about this NBA agreement with FIBA is that teams can aspire to be the highest-level competition.”
Guerschon Yabusele wants to keep playing in NBA, doesn't rule out Real Madrid return
El 7 blanco: Would you return to Real Madrid? Guerschon Yabusele: I will always love Madrid. Right now I want to sign back in the NBA but one day why not yes that would be amazing 🖤
He was far less vague about the proposed NBA Europe, rattling off that the league would likely include 12 permanent franchises in European cities such as Paris, London, Berlin, Barcelona and Madrid and also four other clubs that would have to “play in on a yearly basis” such as established EuroLeague teams. “Now, again, just to be clear, this would be a standalone league,” Silver said. “It wouldn’t be a division of the NBA. Maybe one day some of these teams could be a division of the NBA. I mean I am always reading about new supersonic air jets, jets that are coming online. I mean, I think that could dramatically change things of faster flight.”
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The NBA’s plan is to create a new competition with teams based in major European capitals. In addition to Madrid and Barcelona, candidate cities for one of the eight to ten franchises include London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Rome, Milan, and Berlin.
Dennis Smith leaving Real Madrid?
Ramon Alvarez de Mon: ?? Dennis Smith has not adapted to Madrid, and his departure from the club may be imminent. More problems for Chus Mateo.
The possible departure of Smith Jr. was first reported by journalist Ramón Álvarez de Mon. And, according to MARCA, the decision is more the player's than Madrid's. The team has no complaints about the American point guard, who has been working hard to get in shape after not playing since April of last year.
Real Madrid is the NBA's main target in Europe
Donatas Urbonas: From what I’ve heard, the NBA’s main target is Real Madrid. This has always been a point of contention or doubt within the EuroLeague community. From what I’ve heard, the NBA might even make moves to further convince Real Madrid, possibly by hosting an NBA game in Madrid. We’ve already seen games in Paris, but Madrid might be next. If Madrid leaves, it would be significant.
“In Cleveland too,” he continued, “They said they loved me. They wanted me to stay in the G League to wait for the spot. I was mad. So, I decided to try a new thing to be happy as a basketball player again.” Before joining Madrid in 2017, he was waived by the Cavs and went through yet another brief spell with the Raptors 905. “I started to hate basketball,” the towering center said on his situation, “The main thing was to be happy again, to work hard and improve on the court.”
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Dzanan Musa on staying at Real Madrid: “I am very happy in Madrid and to stay here I turned down some offers from the NBA. I never closed that door completely, but I would not leave here for any reason. I am a winner, I want to play to win”.
The buyout clause was quite large -- and he let me pay it over several years,” continued Campazzo, who considers his time in the NBA to be over. "I think this is a closed stage for me. I would say yes. My contract with Madrid ends when I am 37. I feel at home in Madrid."
Facundo Campazzo: "I had to reinvent my way of playing. I was used to having the ball all the time in Madrid, calling the plays, being the one in control. But here [in the NBA], it was like, ‘Grab the ball, run to the corner, find an open spot, and shoot.’ It was a huge adjustment, and I had to learn to be effective in that role, which was completely different from what I was used to."
The trend began with Nikola Mirotic, who joined Madrid in 2008 at the age of 17. After establishing himself as one of Europe's top players, he left for the Chicago Bulls in 2014, triggering his €2.5 million buyout clause.
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