the Frenchie says goodbye to the States, but above all he will soon be able to say that he played with NBA champions
Ding ding, we have some news from Elie Okobo. The 23-year-old Frenchie has indeed decided to return to France three years after packing for the United States. And it is on the side of ASVEL, with Tony Parker in person, that Elie will pursue his career.
The news was announced by Tony P.’s club this morning on Twitter and on his website. After the young phenomenon Victor Wembanyama, it is therefore Elie Okobo who arrives at ASVEL for the 2021-22 season. The opportunity for the French leader to rediscover real responsibilities within the best team in France, which will play in the EuroLeague next season. Okobo is quite familiar with the French championship since the Bordeaux native wore the colors of the EBPLO (Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez) between 2015 and 2018 (with a selection for the All-Star Game LNB in 2018), before leave to live his American dream. As a reminder, Okobo was selected by the Phoenix Suns at the very start of the second round of the 2018 Draft, with the 31st choice. This is the famous Draft of Luka Doncic and Trae Young, where a certain Deandre Ayton was selected in first position by Phoenix, and where a named Mikal Bridges came out at the tenth spot. Obviously, it must do something to Elie to see Ayton, Bridges, and of course also Devin Booker being on the biggest stage today, two small victories from an NBA championship title.
Élie Okobo played 108 games in total with the Suns between 2018 and 2020 (and nine in the G League with the Northern Arizona Suns), including 19 as a starter, for stats of 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists. There were a lot of defeats on the clock but Okobo was able to witness the start of the Cactus transformation last season, before being cut in November 2020. He then tried to bounce back at the Nets, with whom he played 14 games. in G League on the side of the Orlando bubble, but it did not lead to anything else. Suddenly, Élie felt that it was time to return to France and we say to ourselves that it is rather a good option for the rest of his career.
“He is a player that we have followed for many years, whose game has always appealed to us. Seeing him leave the United States and choose our club to return to France is another strong sign, that our project makes sense and speaks to French players who want to be involved! «
– Tony Parker, President of ASVEL, via ldlcasvel.com
We will be able to rediscover Élie Okobo on the French courts, which is a good thing for the French championship. We know the talent of the man, he should provide real support to ASVEL and at the same time relaunch his career a few months after ankle surgery.
Text source: @LDLCASVEL, ldlcasvel.com
❗ Workforce 2021-2022 👉 Elie OKOBO joins LDLC ASVEL!
The International playmaker (23 years old, 1m91) has chosen LDLC ASVEL to return to France and will be one of the executives of the Villeurbanne workforce at the start of the school year.
✍ https://t.co/QavWuzo059#LDLCASVEL– LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) July 9, 2021
