Monaco GM talks about what makes the club special, Dubai expansion / News - Basketnews.com

AS Monaco GM Oleksiy Yefimov outlined what he believes makes his club special, the role of Sasa Obradovic, and thoughts on the Dubai expansion.

Credit: AS Monaco Direction de la Communication / Stephane Danna Credit AS Monaco Direction de la Communication / Stephane Danna

AS Monaco has quickly established itself as one of the premier basketball clubs in Europe, thanks to strong investment and a strong roster that is spearheaded by stars, namely, Mike James.

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The team's GM, Oleksiy Yefimov, gave an interview to Mozzart Sport, talking about the details that make the team unique, Sasa Obradovic, and what he thinks about a possible expansion to Dubai.

"The word I like to use when people ask me how this is possible, I simply say 'magic,'" said Yefimov. "The answer is always the same... Monaco is the only place left on the planet where true miracles are possible. Monaco is small, but at the same time, it is exclusive. We are creating our own story, which is different," the GM explained the aura that they are trying to create.

GM Yefimov then explained their ambitions for the future, which range from the construction of a new arena to the acquisition of a EuroLeague A-license.

"We want to show that there is something in Monaco that is perhaps bigger than basketball. Basketball can be something that will open many doors. The main goal is to start with the arena project, but we don't want it to be just a basketball arena; we want it to be a hall for everyone," explained Yefimov.

"[For] concerts, sports, various events, to be a place where everyone comes for their reasons, not only sports... We want multi-functionality that will generate profit that finances the club, which will then have a positive impact on the entire Principality," he continued. "That is the main goal because, without it, we will not get a long-term EuroLeague license."

This ambition and exclusivity of Monaco have helped to draw a player like Mike James to them, according to Yefimov.

Free throws this season

76%13,6Points made:13,6Accuracy:76,0%Place in standings:8Record max:26Record min:3Most made FTs:Mike JamesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"If you remember, four years ago, in a podcast with Mindaugas Kuzminskas, he mentioned Monaco. Everyone thought it was ridiculous, that a player like Mike James would never come to Monaco because [we] have nothing meaningful and in common. And where is he now? In Monaco," said Yefimov gleefully.

"And not only did he come to Monaco. He stayed in the same place for the first time in his career and will be here forever. Mike James is [the] proof of what the Monaco project is," he noted ambitiously.

Speaking of the mainstay icons of the club, Yefimov talked about Sasa Obradovic, who has led the team to one playoff run and one Final Four run in his two years.

"Sasa is the man who opened the door to my basketball life. When we met, I was 21 years old," began Yefimov. "When he moved from Kyiv, which experienced bankruptcy, and went to Donetsk, he was the one who invited me to come.

"He assured the owner of Donetsk to bring me [in], that I am the right person for the club, and the owner of Donetsk was the man who started the project and was responsible for today's basketball club Monaco [Sergiy Dyadechko]. So, I think that explains what I think about Sasa. I can never forget those things," concluded Yefimov.

Finally, the Ukrainian GM talked about the possibility of a Dubai expansion in the EuroLeague, expressing that Monaco has an advantage over the new market in the Middle East.

"Just look at the example of the NBA. They are trying to expand the Las Vegas market inside the US. Well, that can be us. Monaco can be the Las Vegas of the EuroLeague because we're right in the heart of Europe," Yefimov said ambitiously.

He is also under the impression that Monaco can play an important role in this regard.

"Monaco may be small, but the French market is huge, especially now because of the [2024] Olympic Games. Monaco can open the door to the French market, which for now is not even 10 percent explored and has incredible potential."

Monaco is currently among the top 6 teams of the EuroLeague in terms of the standings, with 14 wins and 10 losses.

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