“I decided to put the NBA aside”
After having lived a full rookie season with the Oklahoma City franchise in 2020-2021, (65 games played including 49 as a holder), Théo Maledon gradually saw his American dream stretch.
Juggling in recent years between the NBA then the G-League (American division of a lower level), its profile no longer returned to the criteria of American franchises.
So Théo Maledon does not hesitate and finds Europe, direction the French team of ASVEL for the 2024-2025 season.
“I told myself that I had nothing in the NBA anyway, I had no option. I decided to put the NBA aside and give everything I had in the coming season, with the desire to continue to progress. And that’s what happened at ASVEL. »»
“I find that the European championships have really progressed. Each year it improves and suddenly you have to be ready to play here. »»
At ASVEL, the club where he made his professional debut at just 16 years old, Théo Maledon regains confidence and playing time in the role of titular leader.
He shines in the French championship, but also in the Euroleague, the highest European level, being even elected MVP in December, becoming the 4th French to receive such an honor after Nando, Thomas Heurtel et Guerschon Yabusele.
“I expected to have a good season. I continued to work while waiting for the opportunity to be able to show it. ASVEL gave me this opportunity and I seized it with both hands, I went there thoroughly. »»
Sixth best competition scorter in this 2024-2025 season (17.0 points per game) and elected in the second five of the competition alongside Evan Fournier, Théo Maledon has shown that he could play his eyes with the best European leaders,
WhenOlympics.com Asks him, at the end of preparation for Eurobasket 2025, what to change this season for him, he answers in a posed voice: “This season brought me a lot. Leadership, of course, being on the field and playing these high intensity Euroleague matches where for example it was necessary to take decisive shots at the end of the match. »»
“I was also able to pass the training to play in match and I think it also gave me a lot of confidence in my decision -making and in my regularity. »»
“I played the best basketball that I was able to play, even compared to when I was OKC and I had a more than correct playing time. This year, it had nothing to do with what I had done at OKC. »»
But it is not only on the ground that Théo Maledon spent a course this year.
