Asvel has officially kicked off its preparations for the 2026/27 season at the TP Academy, which has become their training center while renovations continue at the Astroballe. In front of a large crowd in attendance, Tony Parker addressed the audience, holding his first press conference since taking over as head coach of the French side.
Tony Parker still cannot count on a full roster, as Jae Crowder arrives in Lyon on Saturday, while TyTy Washington is expected to join on Sunday due to visa complications. Interestingly, the legendary point guard will conduct his first practice with the complete group only on Wednesday – just ten days before their first official game.
Following a particularly turbulent summer, he emphasized that Asvel managed to bounce back, even though the initial project – which boasted a significantly higher budget – did not materialize.
“We bounced back well and built a cohesive team that will be competitive in the EuroLeague and LNB Pro A. The group gets along well, we are working hard, and the mindset is impressive,” Tony Parker assured.
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Goals for first season
He noted that he is very satisfied with the constructed roster. In the EuroLeague, the goal is to perform better than last season, when they finished in last place with just eight wins out of 38 rounds. On the domestic front, however, the message is much clearer.
“In the French championship, we want to play for the title. We want to try to win trophies. The last French championship title was in 2022, and the Leaders Cup in 2023, so it’s been a long time since Asvel won a trophy.”
In his first full season as a head coach, Tony Parker does not want to copy his former coaches, Gregg Popovich or Vincent Collet. However, he plans to rely on the lessons learned during his career.
“My identity will take shape over time. I will have my own DNA, my own style.”
Official debut against brother
His first official game at the helm of Asvel will hold special significance, as he goes head-to-head with his brother, T.J. Parker, in the French Supercup.
“One of the first thoughts that came to my mind when I saw the matchup was our father. During the last six months of his life, that’s all we talked about. I would have loved for him to be there for our first game.”
Limitless ambitions
Tony Parker is not limiting his ambitions to just the upcoming season. Despite the budget cuts and plans to sell the club, he aims to continue establishing Asvel as a permanent fixture among the European elite.
“My motivation is to do as well as I did as a player. […] One day, I’d like people to talk about Asvel the same way they talk about Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Fenerbahce. Otherwise, what’s the point of doing this job?”
Discussions with several investment funds regarding ownership of the club are still ongoing – most notably with the Buss brothers – but the legendary Frenchman declined to go into detail due to non-disclosure agreements.
“Whatever happens or whatever decisions are made, I will remain a shareholder of the club”, Tony Parker concluded.
