Théo Maledon (left), here on December 26 against Charlotte, has been running since the start of the season at 7 points per game on average in the NBA.
-
Chris Carlson / AP / SIPA
At the start of the year,
20 Minutes
presents those who will make the news in 2021 thanks to their associative action, their sports performance, their entrepreneurial spirit or their creativity.
Revealed at Asvel from 2017 to 2020, Théo Maledon (19) tries the adventure in the NBA this season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although “only” drafted in the second round in November, the 1.92 m playmaker made a good debut in the biggest league in the world, like his 12 points scored this Saturday in Orlando (99- 108).
A record of points (12) and assists (4) in the NBA to start the year 2021. This is the gift offered by Théo Maledon during the success of the Thunder Saturday in Orlando (99-108).
Without complex, the 19-year-old French playmaker has the particularity of benefiting from more playing time for his debut in the biggest league in the world (21 minutes and 7 points on average over the first six games) than during his last season at Asvel (17 minutes).
THEO.
⚡️🇫🇷
12 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 19 minutes of play.
5-7 FGM
Theo Maledon & the @OKCThunder win 108-99 against the Magic.
#ThunderUp |
#OnlyHere pic.twitter.com/wgM6PR7OCR
- NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) January 3, 2021
More than a dream, this supersonic trajectory was a goal long sought by the promising 1.92 m player, who shares his Norman childhood, his position, his training at Insep and a major role within the teams of France of young people, with a certain Tony Parker.
“From his arrival with us in 2017, the ambition was to allow Theo to be spotted so that he reached the NBA, reveals Gaëtan Muller, deputy president of Asvel.
A joint win-win project was then put in place.
He is a well-made head, a young brilliant intellectually and sportingly.
"
Théo Maledon carried the Bleuets to the final of the U17 World Cup, in July 2018 in Argentina, before losing to the United States.
- Javier Escobar / SIPA
A last season "a bit difficult but precious" at Asvel
After three seasons at Villeurbanne, Théo Maledon is already talking about him across the Atlantic, like his stunning first preseason match, on December 12 against Spurs (20 points in 29 minutes).
“Theo has always had an above-average basketball IQ,” says Joseph Gomis, assistant at Asvel.
I'm glad he can already show the extent of his talent.
“Unanimously described in the spans of the Astroballe as“ a very mature player ”, the young leader was even expected in the Top 10 of the draft in view of his amazing 2018-2019 season.
But between a shoulder injury, the choices of Zvezdan Mitrovic and the premature cut-off from the Euroleague and the Jeep Elite due to the Covid-19, he found himself removed from the spotlight in 2019-2020 “This past year during which he could not play at his level hurt him, recognizes Joseph Gomis.
He had to take a step back and analyze it all.
But even though he had fewer opportunities to play, he still fought.
"This season" a bit difficult but precious ", according to Gaëtan Muller, was not necessarily the first big obstacle in the rise of this elegant rear.
Livio Jean-Charles, his former teammate at Villeurbanne (from 2017 to 2019), remembers his first steps at the high level:
In his first year at Asvel, he was flirting with the pro squad without really getting a chance [nine appearances], and it wasn't easy for him.
There, it was a complicated season but we can see that everything is going well for him today.
Despite his young age, he has already proven a lot of things, and we see that he knows how to be aggressive and a little less altruistic when discovering the NBA.
I don't want to hurt him but I think he's ready, because he has also thickened physically by working hard during the two confinements.
"
“A real role this season” at the Thunder?
Finally drafted in the second round on November 18, as the 34th choice, very far from his compatriot Killian Hayes (7th), Theo Maledon nonetheless obtains a guaranteed four-year contract (of 6.4 million euros) from the Thunder, which allows Asvel to receive 600,000 euros in transfer fees.
With Asvel, Théo Maledon was able to discover the Euroleague last season, as here against the prestigious Barça in December 2019. - ESPA Photo Agency / CSM / REX / SIPA
“The most important thing for him is to have fallen into a team that believes in him immediately for the NBA, because it was not an option for Theo to be drafted but to return to play a little in Europe , evokes Joseph Gomis.
I see him progressing and having a real role this season in an OKC franchise under reconstruction.
”Théo Maledon could therefore be from 2021 the unexpected Frenchie who counts in the United States.
"He is showing what he has in the paws, smiles Gaëtan Muller.
He must remain himself and he will know how to play others and be recognized for his talent.
"
After Théo Maledon, Matthew Strazel as a revelation at Asvel?
Will this talent withstand a sometimes ruthless NBA, especially for a Frank Ntilikina (22), who has clearly failed since 2017 at the New York Knicks, despite an 8th draft pick.
“I think Theo is more attacking than Frank, and the American game will suit him, tempers Joseph Gomis.
He meets all the criteria to be successful there.
Théo is a bit unique in the way he plays, being generous and with a great vision.
“His first official decisive pass across the Atlantic, on December 26 in Charlotte, is also a model of its kind.
First NBA assist for Théo Maledon in his debut and it's a ✨ dime!
#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/cy6vnSFzYK
- OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 27, 2020
The quick flashes of the French rookie in the NBA could be very beneficial to the image of Tony Parker's Asvel.
“It validates our strategy of becoming one of the biggest clubs in Europe at the academy level,” says Gaëtan Muller.
Theo's success necessarily has an impact on our training.
Moreover, last season, many observers came to see Theo play and discovered in passing Matthew Strazel [18 years].
“Will Asvel again follow the NBA draft very closely this year?
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NBA: the young French Théo Maledon sparkling for his great debut with OKC
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French team: Why Théo Maledon has everything to quickly become "a Top 10 NBA draft"
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