By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne has granted David Lighty’s request to return to the USA this week due to family reasons, the team announced Thursday.
Lighty, 33, will miss the start of his seventh campaign at ASVEL. His side is scheduled to host Zalgiris Kaunas on Friday in Regular Season Round 1 of the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season. Round 2 brings on a visit to Germany to face ALBA Berlin on October 8, while the ensuing double-game week will shift Anadolu Efes and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at the Astroballe for Round 3 and Round 4, respectively.
The former Ohio State standout averaged 11.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per EuroLeague contest through 2020-21. During the offseason, he opted to extend his second stint at ASVEL by re-signing until the end of the 2025-26 season.
On the injury report, Paul Lacombe and Raymar Morgan have been ruled out for several weeks. Elie Okobo was also unavailable at the bottom end of the preseason and is considered questionable for the opening week of the new season.
James Gist was a last-minute addition to the French club. Other registered players are wonderkid Victor Wembanyama, Chris Jones, Charles Kahudi, Antoine Diot, Elwin Ndjock, Youssoupha Fall, Dylan Osetkowski, William Howard, Kymany Houinsou, Matthew Strazel, and Kostas Antetokounmpo.
The team coached by T.J. Parker is coming off finishing 14th in the 2020-21 edition of EuroLeague. The 13-21 run fell seven wins out of the Playoffs. At the domestic level, ASVEL was crowned champion for the 20th time in team history and also managed to capture the French Cup title for the 10th time.