AS Monaco Basket – Roca Team to its friends – is probably the French basketball club of the decade. While Monegasque soccer has often stolen the limelight, basketball has carved out a place for itself in the Principality’s sporting landscape. Born of the merger of several local clubs, AS Monaco Basket gradually climbed the ranks of French basketball, establishing itself as one of the most ambitious and successful teams in the league. For many years, the club played in the lower divisions of French basketball. But it was not until the 2010s that AS Monaco Basket really took off. Thanks to ambitious management and substantial investment, the Roca Team succeeded in attracting internationally renowned players and building a squad capable of competing with Europe’s top teams. Mike James, of course, but this 2024-2025 season also features Nick Calathes and Georgios Papagiannis, not to mention French internationals Elie Okobo and Matthew Strazel. In addition to its meteoric rise to the highest French level in just a few years, one of AS Monaco Basket’s greatest achievements in recent years has been its qualification for the EuroLeague, Europe’s most prestigious club competition. This historic qualification marked a turning point in the club’s history, and enabled Monaco’s players to measure themselves against the best teams on the continent. Since its arrival in the EuroLeague, AS Monaco Basket has rapidly shown that it has a place among Europe’s elite. Based on a very stable core over the years, the players of the Roca Team have delivered remarkable performances, winning prestigious victories and springing surprises against more experienced opponents. As a result, Monaco has managed to stay in the EuroLeague by finishing in the PlayOff every year – a sine qua non for staying in. Several factors have contributed to AS Monaco Basket’s success in recent years. Firstly, the club has built up a first-class infrastructure, with a modern sports hall and high-performance facilities. Secondly, the Monegasque management has put in place an ambitious sports project, based on training young talent and recruiting experienced players, and retaining a large number of players in between seasons. Last but not least, the exceptional atmosphere within the club and the unwavering support of its fans have also contributed to the Roca Team’s success. This season, the level of EuroLeague competition looks even more homogeneous, and the quest for the Final Four will still be a long battle, but Sasa Obradovic’s players have all the weapons in hand to qualify once again and maintain their status as one of Europe’s top 4 teams.