ASVEL to boost their budget despite loss of major sponsor / News - Basketnews.com

Parker emphasized that ASVEL will be built around Risacher, De Colo, and Lauvergne next season and that Risacher will be the heart of their strategy. ASVEL have also accepted an offer from the G League to do an American tour in the upcoming summer and expose their prospect as much as possible.

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

After a hectic week in Villeurbanne, LDCL ASVEL president Tony Parker spoke to the French media outlet Le Progres, where he discussed the financial and sporting future of his club.

Tony Parker

Position:PGAge:40Height:188 cmWeight:84 kgBirth place:Bruges, BelgiumProfileNewsStatistics

Earlier this week, ASVEL was affected by the withdrawal of their major sponsor -- Smart Good Things -- and economic and sporting sanctions imposed by the LNB Pro A.

Following the off-court upsets, Parker assured that he would remain as president and majority shareholder and would raise funds with current shareholders to increase their involvement.

"I'm going to stay with my majority stakes," he emphasized. "Moreover, we're going to raise funds with my current shareholders and increase our participation. On top of that, I've signed a three-year deal with our new partner, which I cannot name now. It's the biggest contract we have ever had at ASVEL since I became president.

"There will no longer be Smart Good Things next season," he also stated. "This new partner will replace Smart Good Things and will be the main sponsor for men's and women's clubs.

"We will also have an increased budget next season. We were far from that a few weeks ago, but I have resources. I scanned the market, made some appointments, and met Marc Lasry, who has just sold his shares of the Milwaukee Bucks."

Parker, a four-time NBA champion, also touched on ASVEL's brightest prospect Zaccharie Risacher, who is set to become one of the centerpieces in Villeurbanne next season.

Parker wants to build a team around him after the departure of Victor Wembanyama.

"Next season, the most important thing is Zaccharie Risacher," Parker underlined. "He will be the heart of our strategy. We will build the team around him, Nando De Colo, and Joffrey Lauvergne. Zaccharie must explode. He is a projected Top 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Why shouldn't he be number 1? He has all the talent in the world and we are really going to push him.

"That's why we accepted the offer from the G League to do an American tour in the upcoming summer and expose him as much as possible," Parker revealed the club plans.

"We will travel for two weeks to the United States. We will start with a training camp in San Antonio and we will play two exhibition matches in Las Vegas on September 7 and 9."

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