The Canadian-Finnish Gordon Herbert, world basketball champion at the head of Germany in September, is the “N.1 choice” of Asvel president Tony Parker to replace his brother TJ Parker, dismissed on Friday, he declared.
“Gordi” is my preference, my No. 1 choice,” Parker said in an interview with L’Equipe dated Saturday.
But the owner and president must “find an agreement with the German Federation for him to join Villeurbanne.
“With Gordi, we agreed on the duration of the contract, the amount. We agree on everything. We are just waiting for the agreement of the Federation,” explained Parker.
The best French basketball player in history is “hopeful” to find a waiting ground with the German Federation.
Herbert, aged 64, coached three seasons in France, at Paris Basket Racing (from 2004 to 2006) then at Pau-Orthez (2006-07), with whom he won the 2007 Coupe de France.
Parker also indicated that he had discussed with the Italian Sergio Scariolo (62), dismissed from Virtus Bologna a month ago. He is the coach of Spain, with whom he was crowned world champion in 2019 and quadruple European champion (2009, 2011, 2015 and 2022).
The former San Antonio leader felt that it was “time to change” because “the results are catastrophic”: Asvel, French champion from 2019 to 2022, remains on seven defeats in the last eight matches, including four in the Euroleague.
In this competition, for which it holds a long-term license, it has 17 defeats in a row spanning last season and the current one as it will inaugurate its new Arena with a capacity of 12,000 seats on November 23 against Bayern Munich.
“We need to make things happen. The mayonnaise did not set well. The team has great potential, we have a good team and here, we are not playing to our full potential” underlined Parker.
“I always said that I would have no qualms, that I would do what is good for the club (…) Yes, it is never easy when it is someone of your family. I had a long discussion with my brother and he understands my decision,” he added.
TJ Parker, aged 39, arrived at Asvel in 2013, initially as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach in 2020.
Sunday in the championship against Roanne, the interim will be provided by assistants Jean-Christophe Prat and Pierric Poupet.
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