ASVEL Basket, known as LDLC ASVEL since 2018 due to sponsorship reasons, is a French professional basketball team located in the commune of Villeurbanne, a suburb of Lyon, France. The club, which is the basketball section of the ASVEL multi-sports club, competes at the highest level of French basketball, the LNB Élite. The club's home games are played in both the OL Arena and the Astroballe which have seating capacities of 12,523 and 5,560 respectively.
Founded in 1948, the team is the most successful in French basketball with 21 LNB Élite championships and 10 French Cup titles.
In June 2019, football club Olympique Lyonnais's holding company OL Groupe purchased a 25% stake in the ASVEL men's team, plus a 10% stake in the ASVEL women's team, in a deal worth around €3.7 million. The deal also included a plan for a new EuroLeague-standard arena.
History The parent club was founded in 1948, with the merger of two multi-sport clubs in Lyon and vicinity; ASVEL is an acronym combining the names of the predecessor clubs—Association Sportive Villeurbanne and Éveil Lyonnais. In its history, ASVEL has won 21 French Pro A League championships, 10 French Cups, two French Supercups, one French Federation Cup, and one Semaine des As Cup (French Pro A Leaders Cup), which makes it the most titled basketball club in France.
In 2014, former San Antonio Spurs star and France national team player, Tony Parker, became the club's president.
In the French Pro A League 2015–16 season, ASVEL won its 18th French League title, after beating Strasbourg IG 3 games to 2 in the French Pro A League Finals. ASVEL was down 2–0 in the series, but won three games in a row to take the championship.
In March 2017, NBA player, Nicolas Batum, became a shareholder in Infinity Nine Sports, the main investment company behind the club, and took over the position as director of basketball operations. Tony Parker remained majority owner, and ASVEL President. In 2018, the club signed a 10-year name sponsorship agreement with Groupe LDLC. The club also changed its main team colors from the original white and green to white and black, and changed its main logo design.
In 2019, ASVEL returned to the EuroLeague after the organisation decided to give the team a wild card for two years.
In the 2021–22 season, ASVEL won its third Pro A championship in a row, its first three-peat in 32 years after beating Monaco in the Finals. Over the next few seasons, ASVEL largely disappointed - with Monaco and later, Paris Basketball overtaking ASVEL in the Pro A, and poor showings in the EuroLeague.
Arenas In July 2016, ASVEL announced that it would build a new multi-functional arena, with a projected seating capacity between 12,000 and 16,000 people, depending on the configuration. The arena is projected to cost €60 million. The new arena will be named the LDLC Arena, and its design and construction were given to architectural firm Populous and Citinea. Construction began in January 2022 and was opened in November 2023.
Logos and branding
On September 11, 2018, the club changed its name to ASVEL for sponsorship reasons. Along with this change, the club changed its main colors from green to black and white. The decision was made with the explanation that, "when you are European, green is a colour that does not make you dream", and was followed by criticism from fans. The new logo, used since 2018, consists of the number four, which refers to ASVEL legend Alain Gilles, while also keeping the V that was used in the previous logo.
Honours and other achievements Honours Type Competition Titles SeasonsDomesticFrench League21 1948–49, 1949–50, 1951–52, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1980–81, 2001–02, 2008–09, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22French Cup10 1952–53, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2018–19, 2020–21French Federation Cup1 1983–84French League Cup2 2010, 2023French Supercup2 2009, 2016
Other Achievements International competitions EuroLeague Semifinalists (1): 1975–76 3rd place (1): 1977–78 4th place (1): 1996–97 Final Four (1): 1997 FIBA Saporta Cup Runners-up (1): 1982–83 Semifinalists (2): 1984–85, 1986–87 FIBA Korać Cup Semifinalists (1): 1995–96 Latin Cup 3rd place (2): 1953, 1966
Domestic competitions French League Runners-up (7): 1953–54, 1958–59, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2002–03 French Cup Runners-up (5): 1953–54, 1954–55, 1958–59, 2001–02, 2015–16 French League Cup Runners-up (2): 2017, 2020 French Super Cup Runners-up (1): 2008 Federation Cup (defunct) Winners (1): 1983–84 Runners-up (1): 1981–82
Other competitions Villeurbanne, France Invitational Game Winners (1): 2020
Season by season
Season by season results of the club in national, cup, and European competitions. SeasonTierLeagueFrench CupA Leaders CupEuropean competitions 2008–09 1 Pro A 1st Quarterfinalist Semifinalist 2 Eurocup 2009–10 1 Pro A 9th Round of 16Champion 1 Euroleague 2010–11 1Pro A 11thSemifinalistSemifinalist 1 Euroleague 2 Eurocup 2011–12 1Pro A 12thRound of 16 1 Euroleague 2 Eurocup 2012–13 1 Pro A 3rd Semifinalist Quarterfinalist2013–14 1 Pro A 7th Round of 32 2 Eurocup 2014–15 1Pro A 6thQuarterfinalist 1 Euroleague 2 Eurocup 2015–16 1 Pro A 1stRunner-up Semifinalist 3 FIBA Europe Cup 2016–17 1 Pro A 4th Round of 32 Runner-up 3 Champions League 2017–18 1 Pro A 6th Quarterfinalist Semifinalist 2 EuroCup 2018–19 1 Pro A 1st ChampionQuarterfinalist 2 EuroCup 2019–20 1 Pro A–– Runner-up 1 EuroLeague 2020–21 1 Pro A 1st Champion 1 EuroLeague 2021–22 1 Pro A 1st Quarterfinalist 1 EuroLeague 2022–23 1 Pro A 3rd Runner-up Champion 1 EuroLeague 2023–24 1 Pro A 3rd Round of 16 Quarterfinalist 1 EuroLeague 2024–25 1 Pro A 3rd Quarterfinalist Semifinalist 1 EuroLeague
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.
International record Season Achievement Notes EuroLeague 1964–65 Quarter-finals eliminated by Real Madrid, 65–83 (L) in Villeurbanne and 65–84 (L) in Madrid 1966–67 Quarter-finals 4th place in a group with Simmenthal Milano, AŠK Olimpija and Racing Mechelen 1969–70 Quarter-finals 3rd place in a group with CSKA Moscow, Ignis Varese and Crvena zvezda 1975–76 Semi-finals eliminated by Real Madrid, 77–113 (L) in Madrid and 101–99 (W) in Villeurbanne 1977–78 Semi-final group stage 3rd place in a group with Real Madrid, Mobilgirgi Varese, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jugoplastika and Alvik 1996–97 Final Four 4th place in Rome, lost to FC Barcelona 70–77 in the semi-final, lost to Smelt Olimpija 79–86 in the 3rd place game 1998–99 Quarter-finals eliminated 2–0 by Olympiacos, 57–70 (L) in Piraeus and 77–81 (L) in Villeurbanne 1999–00 Quarter-finals eliminated 2–1 by Efes Pilsen, 85–93 (L) in Istanbul, 77–60 (W) in Villeurbanne and 66-68 (L) in Istanbul 2000–01 Quarter-finals eliminated 2–0 by CSKA Moscow, 63–78 (L) in Moscow and 76–82 (L) in Villeurbanne FIBA Saporta Cup 1967–68 Quarter-finals eliminated by Ignis Varese, 88–73 (W) in Villeurbanne and 51–70 (L) in Varese 1976–77 Quarter-finals 4th place in a group with Forst Cantù, Juventud Schweppes and Steaua București 1978–79 Quarter-finals 3rd place in a group with EBBC, Gabetti Cantù and Śląsk Wrocław 1982–83 Final lost to Scavolini Pesaro 99–111 in the final (Palma de Mallorca) 1984–85 Semi-finals eliminated by Žalgiris, 78–84 (L) in Kaunas and 93–88 (W) in Villeurbanne 1986–87 Semi-finals eliminated by Cibona, 82–98 (L) in Villeurbanne and 93–109 (L) in Zagreb 1997–98 Quarter-finals eliminated by Stefanel Milano, 58–67 (L) in Villeurbanne and 70–62 (W) in Milan FIBA Korać Cup 1973–74 Semi-finals eliminated by Forst Cantù, 68–99 (L) in Cantù and 94–76 (W) in Villeurbanne 1995–96 Semi-finals eliminated by Stefanel Milano, 69–73 (L) in Milan and 72–81 (L) in Villeurbanne EuroCup 2005–06 Quarter-finals eliminated by Aris TT Bank, 60–67 (L) in Villeurbanne and 67–77 (L) in Thessaloniki
Players Roster
Depth chart
Players out on loan Players out on loanPlayerPositionTeamOn loan since Armoni Brooks SG Valencia Basket 3 August 2026 Nick Weiler-Babb G Crvena zvezda 9 August 2026
Retired numbers ASVEL Basket retired numbersNo.PlayerPositionTenure4Alain GillesG1965–19864Delaney RuddG1993–19995Amara SyG1999–2002, 2005–2007, 2008–2009, 2012–2015
Notable players
Éric Beugnot Jim Bilba Yann Bonato André Buffière Nouha Diakité Alain Digbeu Antoine Diot Makan Dioumassi Boris Dallo Nando de Colo Antoine Eito Moustapha Fall Youssoupha Fall Laurent Foirest Mickaël Gelabale Alain Gilles Henri Grange Thomas Heurtel William Howard Edwin Jackson Livio Jean-Charles Paul Lacombe Charles Lombahe-Kahudi Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot Théo Maledon Jacques Monclar Ferenc Németh Amine Noua Élie Okobo Tony Parker Yves Pons Henri Rey Zaccharie Risacher Arthur Rozenfeld Yohann Sangaré Laurent Sciarra Matthew Strazel Gérard Sturla Amara Sy Philip Szanyiel Kim Tillie Ali Traoré Ronny Turiaf Saint-Ange Vebobe Victor Wembanyama Léo Westermann Guerschon Yabusele Ismaël Bako Retin Obasohan Kostas Antetokounmpo Noam Yaacov Nikola Radulović Nikola Vujčić Miro Bilan Andrija Žižić François Németh Kristjan Kangur Rolandas Alijevas Mantas Kalnietis Mindaugas Lukauskis Marko Kešelj Nikola Radulović Hüseyin Beşok Steve Bucknall Pops Mensah-Bonsu Tonye Jekiri David Andersen Adrian Uter Rowan Barrett Walter Hodge Hilton Armstrong Tarik Black Lawrence Boston Eric Campbell John Celestand Norris Cole Corey Crowder Bobby Dixon Charles Gaines James Gist Shaquille Harrison Brian Howard Frank Jackson Jaren Jackson Chris Jones Marcos Knight Jay Larranaga Paris Lee David Lighty Terrell Lyday Rawle Marshall Marlon Maxey Scott Machado Trenton Meacham Jay Murphy DeMarcus Nelson Dylan Osetkowski Ahmad Nivins André Roberson Delaney Rudd Mike Scott A. J. Slaughter Alex Tyus Chevon Troutman Darryl Watkins Casper Ware Lamayn Wilson
Head coaches TenureHead Coach 1948–1955 André Buffière 1955–1956 Raymond Sahy 1956–1959 Georges Darcy 1959–1960 Raymond Sahy 1960–1963 Gérard Sturla 1963 Raymond Sahy 1963–1964 Henri Rey 1964–1967 Jesus Mercader 1967–1970 Maurice Buffière 1970 Michel Le Ray 1970–1972 Jacques CaballéTenureHead Coach 1972–1973 Jesus Mercader 1973–1980 André Buffière 1980–1989 Alain Gilles 1989–1990 Pierre Galle 1990–1991 Dominique Richard 1991–1992 Jean-Paul Rebatet 1992–2001 Grégor Beugnot 2001–2002 Bogdan Tanjević 2002–2004 Philippe Hervé 2004–2005 Erman Kunter 2005–2006 Claude BergeaudTenureHead Coach 2006–2008 Yves Baratet 2008–2010 Vincent Collet 2010–2011 Nordine Ghrib 2011–2014 Pierre Vincent 2014 Nordine Ghrib (interim head coach) 2014–2018 J. D. Jackson 2018 T. J. Parker 2018–2020 Zvezdan Mitrović 2020–2023 T. J. Parker 2023–2024 Gianmarco Pozzecco
Club Presidents TenureClub President 1948–1963 Pierre Millet 1963–1988 Raphaël de Barros 1988–1990 Charles Hernu 1990 Philippe Charvieux 1990–1992 Gaston Charvieux 1992–2001 Marc Lefebvre 2001–2014 Gilles Moretton 2014–present Tony Parker
Individual club records Individual club record holders, while players of ASVEL.
CategoryPlayerClub TenureRecord Total Points Scored Alain Gilles 1965–86 6,141 Points Per Game Norris Bell 1984–88 21.8 Total Assists Delaney Rudd 1993–99 1,208 Assists Per Game Delaney Rudd 1993–99 7.3 Total Rebounds Willie Redden 1983–92 1,472 Rebounds Per Game Willie Redden 1983–92 8.5 Games played Alain Gilles 1965–86 372
ASVEL players with the most French League championships ASVEL players with the most French League championships won, while members of the club.
PlayerFrench ChampionshipsClub Tenure Alain Gilles 8 1965–86 Henri Grange 7 1955–69 Raymond Sahy 6 1948–57 Alain Durand 5 1963–72 Henri Rey 1949–60 Michel Duprez 1968–77 Gilbert Lamothe 1959–71 Bruno Recoura 1967–75 André Buffière 4 1948–55 Michel Le Ray 1967–73 Gérard Sturla 1951–60 Jean-Pierre Castellier 1963–69 Gérard Moroze 1967–75
Sponsors Groupe LDLC
References
External links