Many were surprised when AS Monaco made it to the EuroLeague Final Four back in 2023. Basketball predictions today see the “Red and Whites” as one of the favorites to go deep this season, as they are currently in third place in the standings with a 13-8 record.
They play equally well both at home and on the road and are the highest-scoring team in the elite European competition. So, can a team from one of the smallest countries in Europe win the elite competition of the continent?
They had a strong start to the season, and seemingly out of nowhere, the news came that head coach Sasha Obradovic was fired. He has been with the team since 2019, with a short discontinuity, and was the key man in making Monaco what it is today. The Serbian coach gave the key players freedom on the offensive end and still implemented his defensive mentality on defense.
It wasn’t easy to find a replacement for Obradovic, as he created a great relationship with the players, but the team hired one of the greatest players ever in Europe, Vassilis Spanoulis, and they look better than ever. Being third on the all-time SuroeLeague scoring list, Spanoulis is the right man who can improve the team’s offense even more.
Monaco leads the league, averaging 87.8 points per game, which is very impressive given the competition they face. They play “run and gun” basketball but still have a high field goal percentage with their solid shot selection. They shoot 57.2% on two-point shots and 37.2% from three-point territory, clearly showing their offensive dominance.
Coach Spanoulis has not changed the playing style since his arrival. He only made additions to the transition, especially from offense to defense. AS Monaco allows 81.2 points per game making the defensive end a palace where the team should improve.
One of their best performances this season came in round 4 when they dominated Virtus Segafredo Bologna in a 101-85 win. The Italian team had a one-point lead at halftime, but Monaco took over in the second half and closed out the game on their terms.
The team’s ratio of 16 assists and only two turnovers is something we rarely see on the basketball court. Mike James proved that he is fully recovered from the back surgery he had in the summer, scoring 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field.
“It’s a process, and I am focused on being in shape and get my body back to before,” James said after the game.
“It didn’t feel like us the last time round and we just wanted to get back to moving and sharing the ball. I felt we did that tonight, especially in the second half.”
Still, Monaco’s most impressive win of the season came on the road in Istanbul, where they demolished Fenerbahce 99-69 in round 15. Monaco shot 62.8% on two-pointers and 47.1% from deep. Again, James was brilliant, scoring 23 points on only 13 shots from the field.
However, the team has had its lows, like the recent 98-84 home loss against Barcelona. The Spanish team was in a deep crisis and showed up ready in Monaco.
Elie Okobo did not have his best game against Barcelona, but that doesn’t change the fact that he has been one of the best players in the EuroLeague this season. The French point guard is playing the best season of his career, averaging 13.2 points and 4 assists per game. His consistency is one of the main reasons why Monaco is high in the basketball team rankings. His best performance of the season came in the 103-92 win over Asvel Villeurbanne when he scored 27 points and added 6 assists.
Mouhammadou Jaiteh has made his presence felt in the paint. He is in his second season with Monaco and averages 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He has been great on the defensive end, impacting the opponent’s shots under the rim, and his contribution to the team is way bigger than the stats can show.
Veteran Nick Calathes joined the team this season, and his impact will grow as the season progresses.
Currently, Monaco is on a two-game losing streak. After the abovementioned loss to Barcelona, they lost a close one, 95-94, against Bayern Munich. That makes the upcoming games against Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Real Madrid of high importance.
The Italian team has had a difficult season, but with the coaching change, they have boosted their energy under Dusko Ivanovic and may be a difficult opponent. Hosting Real Madrid will be a real challenge for Monaco and a huge opportunity to show everyone that Monaco is a real contender this year.
Both Virtus and Real Madrid play up-tempo basketball, which perfectly suits Monaco’s style of basketball.
The competition in the EuroLeague has never been bigger, so things can dramatically change in a week. Still, Monaco is in an excellent situation and is only two wins behind the leading Olympiacos.
Coach Spanoulis brings stability to the roster, the players feel confident playing for him and Monaco will be a dangerous opponent for any team in the EuroLeague, and they truly belong in the championship conversation.
