By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
ASVEL Villeurbanne made some noise during the 2022 offseason by signing EuroLeague superstar Nando De Colo and also adding veteran big man Joffrey Lauvergne, bringing both players back to their native France after many years. These moves are an obvious sign that the French club wants to move to another level, according to the latter.
“The arrival of Nando and me are proof that the club wants to change status,” Lauvergne said in an interview with BeBasket. “The challenge is great because ASVEL wants to compete to make the EuroLeague Final Four within five years. It convinced me.”
For now, the goal for ASVEL in EuroLeague is to advance to the playoffs of the competition for the first time this century. “The project is clearly to make the EuroLeague playoffs and this is why we have a competitive team,” Lauvergne said.
Lauvergne mentioned that his relationship with ASVEL president Tony Parker and head coach TJ Parker played a big role in being convinced to sign with the team. “I get on well with Tony, I played with him on the French national team and on the San Antonio Spurs. I know TJ very well, we spent several Christmasses together. It’s more than a professional relationship.”