Nando de Colo names the primary reason why he left Fenerbahce / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Wassim Boutanos Credit Wassim Boutanos

Nando de Colo made a blockbuster move this offseason transferring from Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.

Points this season

47%73,0Points made:73,0Accuracy:46,9%Place in standings:17Record max:88Record min:54Best scorer:Elie OkoboTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

This week, he is holding his annual basketball camp for kids ages 10 to 17. A total of 70 kids showed up. Nando is there not to just put his name on a shirt, take some pictures and leave. The star guard participates in all the drills himself and even suits up for a referee role.

During the camp, de Colo gave an interview to the French basketball news website BasketUSA where he talked about his transfer in depth.

"I don't have a French championship title yet, so we can start there. Afterward, the project in general pleased me," de Colo told. "To be honest, I was in contact with two, three clubs, Monaco and Valencia above all. Each time I was asked the question, I explained it the same way."

"Valencia only has one year of EuroLeague, so it's complicated for me to project myself there," he explained. "With Monaco, it was a bit of the same story. I have so much respect for Valencia that it bothered me to go back there for a year and then see what happened if I had to leave. In the end, it was between ASVEL and Fenerbahce."

The French guard signed with Fenerbahce in 2019 and has spent three seasons there, winning the Turkish Cup in 2020 and the Turkish League this season. However, the main reason for leaving the club is not related to titles.

"I come out of three years there where, overall, it was complicated because we changed coaches and staff every year. We still manage to grab the Turkish title this year. But starting from scratch is not always the best if you want to go as far as possible," de Colo explained his choice.

Nando De Colo

MIN:22.11PTS:11.86 (57.92%)REB:2.24As:3.81ST:1.33BL:0.19TO:2.52GM:21ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

The EuroLeague veteran now goes back to France where he last played way back in 2009 in Cholet. Former NBA and FIBA star Tony Parker is the president of ASVEL, however, de Colo denies it being the reason for signing with the club.

"On career choices that concern me, I try to see the overall project. It's never good if a president wants you but you don't really know how it exactly goes behind the doors. Like I told Tony, I'm more interested in the project than what's on the contract right now, especially at this stage of my career," de Colo told.

"I explained to him that I wanted to speak with TJ [Parker] to also have his feelings about the team, and how we could evolve together," he continued. "As my career progressed, I have also learned to develop this relationship with various coaches. The seasons are very long and even longer for me with the role I will have in the team."

Just a couple of days before the signing of de Colo was announced, Victor Wembanyama, who's often regarded as the most talented prospect in the world, decided to leave the team and join Paris Basketball.

"I didn't necessarily sign up to be with Victor," ASVEL's new addition explained. "I know the player because we see him everywhere lately. I don't know the person. It's true that Tony, when we started the discussions, explained to me that in addition to everything he expected of me, it was a role of a mentor in relation to this young generation."

"Whether at Fener or in Moscow, as soon as there are things to say, I say them," de Colo pointed out his philosophy. "That's how we get things done. When we learned that he had preferred to take another path, he is free, it is his choice. I didn't rely on that one way or another."

De Colo will not suit up for the French national team this September and will not participate in the EuroBasket 2022.

"You have to do the math," he explains. "Since 2007, I have linked seasons and summers. In 2014, I didn't go to the World Cup but I still went to the preparation for it. In 2018, I was at the windows in June and September. I haven't had a vacation since. I am not the only one in this situation. I think Nico [Batum] must have missed two max."

"When the seasons go from September to mid-June and you have to follow up with the France team afterward, at some point you also have to put things in their place. I just thought about what would be best for the rest of my career. I clearly want to go to the Olympics, and for that, I need a break today. It feels good to be a little more with the family even if we are no longer abroad," de Colo finished his statement.

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