By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Unlike what Tony Parker said in an interview during the weekend, stating that they would have waited for Gordon Herbert to take over ASVEL’s bench on Monday, the Canadian-Finnish head coach won’t move to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Talking to kicker, in fact, the 64-year-old head coach admitted the German basketball federation wasn’t letting him coach the French club while staying at the lead of Germany. “I discussed with the DBB the possibility of coaching ASVEL and remaining the national coach at the same time. The DBB did not support the idea. I accept that. I would never do it without the association’s approval and support”, the reigning World Cup champion revealed.
He then reminded – as done several times during the International competition as well – that his is a three-year project with Germany. “I have made a three-year commitment. If the players have also made such a three-year commitment, I stand by it without any doubt”, Gordon Herbert then explained. “I love the players, it’s an honor to coach them”, the 64-year-old coach then added.
Finally, the German basketball federation also commented on the matter, saying through a spokesman that “the matter is closed”, and that “ASVEL’s president can say whatever he wants”, referring to Tony Parker, who also mentioned Sergio Scariolo among the candidates for his team’s bench.
Parting ways with TJ Parker after a very rough start into the 2023-24 season, ASVEL is now the only EuroLeague team alongside ALBA Berlin that couldn’t win a single game. In the LNB, instead, they are 7th with a 5-3 record.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA World Cup
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