Paris Basketbowl ousted from Euroleague's quarterfinals during their debut season
A Stunning EuroLeague Exit: Paris Falls Short in Quarters
Last night, the Parisian hoops dream came crashing down in the quarterfinals, as they faced a historic defeat (98-88) against Fenerbahce in overtime at their own home court on April 29th. Despite a valiant effort, a clean sweep of three games brought an end to their EuroLeague journey.
Five days after a bitter loss in Istanbul (89-72, following the 83-78 defeat in the first match), the Parisians gave it their all in a nail-biting, hotly contested game. Leading the charge were Nadir Hifi (24 points) and TJ Shorts (an exceptional 29 points, equalling the EuroLeague record), who kept hope alive in a game where Paris struggled to keep pace. Alas, Wade Baldwin's buzzer-beater attempt came up just short, leading to an overtime period that ultimately proved a one-sided affair. Fenerbahce kickstarted the extra period with an 8-0 run, courtesy of seven points from Tarik Biberovic.
The Parisian Saga Continues
This season, the Parisians set new records for the French league team with the most wins (an impressive 10 in the fall) and managed to outclass some of Europe's biggest names, including Real Madrid in the playoffs (81-73), on their home turf. Tiago Splitter, the team's coach, expressed his pride in what they achieved during their inaugural EuroLeague season, a feat they managed despite playing an exhausting 70 games throughout the season and barely dropping a game. In Splitter's words, "We weren't in the running for the win in only one or two games, that's a physical and mental accomplishment that even the big teams sometimes can't achieve".
Though the Parisians' EuroLeague spot for next season is far from guaranteed, they have nearly two months to add another trophy to their collection after they clinched the French Cup just this past weekend (91-90 against Le Mans). In the blink of an eye, this young club has already left its mark on Europe, with three trophies under their belt in just 15 months of existence.
Navigating the New Age of Basketball
The club's co-owner, David Kahn, has emphasized the need for a bigger budget to maintain competitiveness, particularly addressing the challenges surrounding EuroLeague media rights[1]. He's been working tirelessly to fortify the financial foundations, ensuring profitability while striving for growth.
Retaining the team's star players will be a top priority, given their successful EuroLeague campaign[1]. Kahn has publicly pondered strategies around the core players, hinting at plans to maintain team chemistry and experience level.
The evolving European basketball landscape presents new challenges and opportunities[2][4][5]. With the NBA planning Paris-hosted regular-season games in 2025-26 and exploring broader expansion[5], Paris Basketball may find itself at the forefront of France's growing basketball scene. They'll need to navigate this heightened interest while preparing for increased competition.
Finally, Paris will study Fenerbahce's blueprint (consistent Final Four regulars since 2015) in refining their approach to roster construction and in-game execution[2]. The sting of defeat will linger, but the Parisians remain resilient, ready to take on whatever the future holds.
The Parisians, despite their impressive showing in the EuroLeague this season, fell short in the quarterfinals, with Fenerbahce claiming a thrilling overtime victory (98-88) in a nail-biting game played on their home court on April 29th. TJ Shorts ran riot during the contest, scoring an exceptional 29 points, equalling the EuroLeague record, while Paris struggled to keep pace. The Parisian team has been competitive in the NBA-like basketball competition, setting records, outclassing European giants, and winning three trophies in just 15 months of existence, but they will need a bigger budget to maintain their competitiveness in the face of challenges surrounding EuroLeague media rights. Paris Basketball is preparing for increased competition as the evolving European basketball landscape presents new opportunities, such as the NBA planning Paris-hosted regular-season games in 2025-26 and exploring broader expansion.
