Starting point
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne enters the 2026/27 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season with a deep roster overhaul. Based in Villeurbanne, the French club starts the campaign without previous-season competitive data available in the record, reinforcing the sense of a project that begins almost from scratch in terms of sporting continuity.
ASVEL's bet combines backcourt experience with a reinforced frontcourt and versatile perimeter profiles. The European calendar starts soon, and the first test comes at home.
Changes and roster
Summer brought massive turnover. Effective departures since 1 July include Nando De Colo, Thomas Heurtel, Melvin Ajinca, Braian Angola, Paul Eboua, Armel Traore, Zachary Seljaas, Glynn Watson, Shaquille Harrison, Bastien Vautier, Adam Atamna, Mehdy Ngouama and Marvyn Wade. Mbaye Ndiaye left for Olympiacos BC.
On the incoming side, ASVEL added Nathan Sestina from Valencia Basket, Myles Cale from Barça, Joel Bolomboy from Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, and signed Yves Pons, Both Gach and Mathis Dossou-Yovo. The current EuroLeague roster includes TyTy Washington, Patty Mills, Tremont Waters, Edwin Jackson, Hugo Besson, Myles Cale, Both Gach, David Lighty, Yves Pons, Nate Sestina, Jae Crowder, Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada, Bodian Massa, Mathis Dossou-Yovo and Joel Bolomboy.
The backcourt features three elite-level point guards: TyTy Washington, Australian veteran Patty Mills and Tremont Waters. Up front, the group mixes young players such as Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada and Mathis Dossou-Yovo with veterans Joel Bolomboy and Bodian Massa.
Patty Mills, wearing number 8, brings experience and international pedigree to a key position as ASVEL tries to find its rhythm in a new era.
Identity and strengths
The team profile points to physicality in the paint and versatility on the perimeter. Jae Crowder, number 99, fits as a reference in the frontcourt rotation and brings top-level competition experience.
Both Gach, a new signing, arrives after the 2026/27 FIBA World Cup with South Sudan, where he averaged 12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in six games. That recent form suggests scoring and playmaking ability from the wing.
Yves Pons and Bodian Massa, both with France at the same tournament, bring national-team continuity and knowledge of French basketball. Pons averaged 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in four games; Massa posted 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in two games. Frontcourt depth, with Bolomboy, Dossou-Yovo, Fodzo Dada and Massa, may be one of the project's strongest assets.
On the perimeter, Edwin Jackson, Hugo Besson, David Lighty and Myles Cale offer shooting and wing defence options. Mills and Waters' experience managing tempo could be decisive in close games.
Risks
The main question mark is lack of continuity. Losing figures such as De Colo, Heurtel or Ndiaye means rebuilding team chemistry from day one. A roster with so many new faces needs time to define roles.
Backcourt depth can create healthy internal competition, but also make it harder to stabilise minutes between Washington, Mills and Waters. Up front, several centres and power forwards require a clear rotation to avoid overlap.
With no 2025/26 season statistics available, it is premature to assess the club's previous EuroLeague performance. That missing reference adds uncertainty to any projection.
Expectations and forecast
From an editorial standpoint, ASVEL looks like a candidate to settle in the lower-middle tier of the regular season, with room to target the play-in if new pieces integrate quickly. The experience of Mills, Crowder and Lighty may shorten the adaptation curve, but does not remove the risk of early inconsistency.
A reasonable scenario places the French club fighting for play-in or playoff access, depending on home form at Astroballe and key road performances. Clearing that threshold will require defensive solidity and scoring consistency in a tightly packed league.
Opening schedule
The EuroLeague calendar opens on 24 September 2026 at Astroballe against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv. Four days later, ASVEL visits Panathinaikos BC on 30 September, and on 2 October hosts Valencia Basket, Nathan Sestina's former club.
The early stretch also includes trips to Paris Basketball (7 October) and Real Madrid (15 October), plus home games against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (13 October) and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (28 October). The visit to Zalgiris Kaunas on 23 October completes a demanding start that will test a roster still under construction.