AS Monaco Basket – Betclic Elite 2022/2023: Schedule, Transfers and Squad

At the dawn of the start of the 2022/2023 Betclic Elite season, We Sport returns for you to the situation of the eighteen teams that make it up. Today, heading for the Principality and AS Monaco, vice-champion of France.

The balance sheet of AS Monaco last season

Being one of the two French members of the Euroleague, AS Monaco approached the championship with the label of favourites, co-held with ASVEL. And that has been true throughout the season. Among the leading teams, the Monegasques eventually ceded first place to rival Villeurbannais, but still finished second with a small victory for the leader.

In the playoffs, the players of Sašand the Ceremonyć were initially very scared, losing the match match of their quarter-final against Strasbourg. Fortunately for them, the rest of their road to the final was much less tumultuous. Monaco overthrew the SIG, then won in four games (3-1) against Élan Béarnais to find the final for the first time since 2019. Opposed to ASVEL, the team from the principality will deliver great games, even leading 2-0 in the series before welcoming their opponents to Gaston Médecin for game 4. Unfortunately, ASVEL would end up getting out of it in five games, depriving Monaco of the title of champion of France.

[25-9]2^e of the regular season, eliminated in the final by LDLC ASVEL (3-2)

The movements of the off-season

Like many teams playing at the highest European level, Monaco has experienced a high turnover in its workforce, even if some of their holders (Diallo, James, Motiejuhnas) have been extended. Thus, the Monegasques let slip players like Paris Lee and Will Thomas, but also other major players like Danilo Andjusic and Ibrahima Fall Faye. Former French international Léo Westermann also left the ship, choosing, like Will Thomas, to join the Spanish championship.

To compensate for these departures, Monaco brought in several Americans experienced in European games, such as Jaron Blossomgame, John Brown and Jordan Lloyd. The team also did not hesitate to recruit made in Betclic Elite, with young people like Matthew Strazel and Yoan Makoundou, but also and above all Elie Okobo, MVP of the last French championship finals. The Monegasques also hit hard by hiring Adrien Moerman, double Euroleague winner with Anadolu Efes in 2021 and 2022.

Arrivals: Jaron Blossomgame (Ratiopharm Ulm, BBL), John Brown (UNICS Kazan, Super League), Jordan Lloyd (Zenith, Super League), Yoan Makoundou (Cholet Basket), Adrien Moerman (Anadolu Efes, TBSL), Elie Okobo (ASVEL), Matthew Strazel (ASVEL)

Departures: Danilo Andjusic (Partizan Belgrade, KLS), Dwayne Bacon (?), Jerry Boutsiele (Bahcesehir College, TBSL), Rudy Dehamis-Ballou (?), Abraham Fall Faye (Metroplitans 92), Rob Gray (Tofaş Bursa, TBSL), Paris Lee (Panathinaïkos, ESAKE), Brock Motion (Levanga Hokkaido, JBL), Will Thomas (Malaga, Liga ACB), Leo Westermann (Workshop, League ACB)

Extensions: Alpha Diallo, Donta Hall, Mike James, Donatas Motiejuhnas, onšand the Ceremonyć (Coach), Yakub Ouattara

The workforce of AS Monaco 2022/2023

Leaders: Mike James, Matthew Strazel

Rears: Elie Okobo, Jordan Loyd, Yakub Ouattara

Wingers: Alpha Diallo, Jaron Blossomgame

Power forwards: Adrien Moerman, Yoan Makoundou

Pivots : Donta Hall, John Brown III, Donatas Motiejunas

Coach : onšand the Ceremonyć

AS Monaco : Ambitions and ranking

Unlucky Betclic Elite finalists last year, AS Monaco will once again be among the favorites for final victory this season. Backed by a large recruitment and with one of the best squads in the league, taking advantage of its participation in the Euroleague to attract players, the men of Sašand the Ceremonyć will certainly play the leading roles and will be among the contenders for the title. Winning it would be a success, letting it go another failure.

Player to watch: Elie Okobo

French champion with ASVEL last season, Elie Okobo moved to the other side during the off-season by joining the Monegasque rival. Excellent throughout the year and MVP of the Betclic Elite finals, he recovered his health in Europe to the point of joining the France group for Eurobasket. In an ambitious team that has achieved a big transfer window, Okobo will be one of the attacking leaders of this team, especially alongside Mike James with whom his association promises a lot. After winning with ASVEL, it’s up to him to show that he can take Monaco to the top.

The calendar of AS Monaco in 2022/2023

J8 : 06/11/2022vs JDA Dijon

J9: 20/11/2022vs CSP Limoges

J12: 11/12/2022@ Metropolitans 92

J14 : 23/12/2022vs LDLC ASVEL

J16 : 08/01/2023vs Elan Bearnais

J19: 29/01/2023@ LDLC ASVEL

J25: 25/03/2023@ CSP Limoges

J27: 02/04/2023vs Metropolitans 92

J28 : 08/04/2023@ Élan Béarnais

J30 : 25/04/2023@ JDA Dijon