By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
If anybody had predicted JL Bourg-en-Bresse to go on and reach last year’s BKT EuroCup Finals, they would have been met by a number of surprised faces. Bourg? Really?
Sure, the red-and-white French side had some interesting notes on its side: Zaccharie Risacher’s projected standout season before heading to the NBA, another season on board for coach Frederic Fauthoux, and tons of talent on the roster.
But even after its 4-2 start through the first six rounds, Bourg still didn’t receive a lot of consideration. However, following a road loss against Lietkabelis, it went on a 7-0 run which included beating the reigning competition champion, Gran Canaria.
The team’s trajectory brought Bourg all the way to the all-French ultimate best-of-three showdown against Paris Basketball, where Regular Season and Finals MVP TJ Shorts took over.
One question arises as it stands on top of Group B with the same record it had at this point last year: can Bourg contend once again for the EuroCup title despite eight significant roster changes?
Between the collective game and Risacher’s development
If there’s one thing Coach Fauthoux is most proud of from his team’s success last season, it is how Bourg showcased its potential on the court. “Maybe it’s true that we surprised a lot of people, but we have a great organization behind us. Everybody is put in the best position to produce and play at the best of our abilities,” he tells Eurohoops’ Cesare Milanti.
The goals were twofold: playing collective basketball and helping Zaccharie Risacher make the next step. Both tasks were successful completed. “We played amazing basketball, both defensively and offensively. We shared the ball well, we scored a lot. That’s a great feeling,” Fauthoux adds.
“We had scouts following Zaccharie [Risacher] in every game, both at home and away, and that eventually led to him being the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. It means we have worked well on both sides. He had great ambitions, and we did our best to help him.”
Talking about the talented 2005-born French forward, the Bourg play-caller recalled how the opportunity to bring him on board took place. “I coached him when I was assistant at ASVEL two years ago, and I played with his dad [Stephane Risacher],” he reveals. “It was easy to negotiate. When both sides decided to work together, everything was simple.
“It would have been difficult for him to play in the EuroLeague straight away and be ready. I think that for young players like him, the EuroCup is a great competition for talent development. I don’t know if he surprised people, but I was sure: I knew his potential.”
Risacher isn’t the only player who left France to adjust to an higher level, as Isiaha Mike also left Bourg to join Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the EuroLeague. “When we talked with him two years ago, we explained to him that if he worked like he needed to, he would have surely move to the EuroLeague,” he recalls.
“When the opportunity to join Partizan came, I was so happy. For him first and for our job, too. He’s a versatile player, can cover multiple positions. He can drive, he can shoot, he’s a great teammate. I hope he can adjust quickly to the EuroLeague. Working with Zeljko [Obradovic] is an even better opportunity to improve again.”
New faces for the red-and-white side
Thus far, the French team has record two tough victories away from home in Hamburg (80-100) and Venice (66-88), while also securing the win in Round 2 over U-BT Cluj-Napoca at Ekinox. “It’s a great beginning of our season, but we know that the EuroCup is long and it won’t be easy”, he says, with Bourg enjoying a 3-0 start to the campaign.
Next up, hosting Erdem Can’s Turk Telekom Ankara in a clash of former finalists. “We have to confirm our level at home, that’s the most important. Ankara is a great team and they started with three wins [against Lietkabelis, Aris, and Cedevita Olimpija], too. It will be a tough game. We need to improve again, because offensively we have had some mistakes,” Fauthoux shares.
Replacing eight rotation players (Zaccharie Risacher, Isaiha Mike, JeQuan Lewis, Bryce Brown, Jeremy Morgan, EJ Rowland, Axel Julien, and Bodian Massa) wasn’t an easy task, but so far the newcomers have been showing their potential in the EuroCup.
— JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) October 3, 2024
Working with Fauthoux’s former agent and current sports director Francois Lamy, Bourg brought in Xavier Castaneda, Joel Ayayi, Brandon Paul, Mehdy Ngouama – a EuroCup champion last year with Paris – Adrian Nelson, Jordan Usher, and Jean-Marc Pansa, among other prospects like the 18-year-old Leon Sifferlin or the 2005-born Wilson Jacques.
“We need to help players like Xavier [Castaneda] or Jordan [Usher] make the next step. They can do great things in the EuroCup and I hope they can have a great season with us. Adrian Nelson provides great energy on the court; it’s important to have a player like him, too,” he says.
Moreover, domestic players are crucial. “French guys like [Maxime] Courby and [Kevin] Kokila know very well my game. They’re leading by example in the locker room. Hugo [Benitez] is also having a great start of the season, and he’s only 23. But our priority is always the collective game. Then, the difference will be done by high-level players.”
Pressure, transition, and sharing the ball
The philosophy hasn’t changed at all. Despite missing key players from last season and going through an understandable adjustment period for newcomers, Bourg is still a team that loves high-possession games, also ranking first in steals per contest (12.7).
Pressure on the ball, transition offense, and the “sharing is caring” philosophy are Fauthoux’s backbones for the French team and so far, the team has responded well. “We don’t have Mike James, Kendrick Nunn or other superstars who can deliver for us. I prefer to build a collective team, because playing together is the most important for me,” he explains.
“Our first goal is to defend together and put a lot of pressure on the ball. I want my guys to play in transition, running the ball. The idea is for everybody to touch the ball, moving harmoniously. Only through that we can be dangerous everywhere and tough to contain.”
We can also expect him to translate his basketball ideas from club competition to his country’s international duties, as Fauthoux was recently appointed head coach of the French national team. He will replace Vincent Collet, who had been in charge since 2009. His dream came true.
“It’s an honor and I’m proud about it,” he says. “When I played, my dream was to represent my country. When I started coaching, my dream was to coach the French national team. Now, I must work and give everything I can to keep the French national team at the highest level in the world.”
While we wait to see the 51-year-old French tactician on the sideline leading the French national team, like he did on the court as a playmaker, everybody will keep enjoying Bourg’s motion on offense. After all, that’s the recipe that brought them to last year’s EuroCup Finals.
Bienvenue Frédéric Fauthoux 🤝
L’actuel coach de la @JLBourgBasket est nommé coach des Bleus 🇫🇷#TeamFranceBasket | #PassionnémentBleu pic.twitter.com/6ZLFKHt0sL
— Équipes de France de Basket (@FRABasketball) September 25, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: JL Bourg-en-Bresse