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2023-24 Roster Rundown: AS Monaco

2023-24 Roster Rundown: AS Monaco

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31 August 20235 mins read

The bar is naturally set high for AS Monaco. Over the last three seasons, the club from the principality has continually exceeded expectations by winning the EuroCup, reaching Game 5 of the playoffs as a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debutant, and getting to the Final Four. Coach Sasa Obradovic and his men are not satisfied and they enter the 2023-24 season looking to build on their most successful campaign to date with a deep and talented roster.

BACKCOURT

AS Monaco boasted one of the best backcourt in the EuroLeague last season with three players among the top 25 scorers in the league. Mike James, Elie Okobo and Jordan Loyd are all back and joining them is four-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker. James, who early this season figures to become the fourth player in competition history to amass 4,000 career points, has been an All-EuroLeague selection in both of his seasons with Monaco and is the team's most dangerous weapon.

Walker has all the tools to complement James and turn the backcourt into something of legend, though there may be a learning curve early as he adjusts to basketball on the Old Continent. It's safe to assume that Monaco will play some three-guard sets with Okobo and Loyd, too. All four players can handle the ball and score, which should lead to plenty of open shots whenever any of them break down defenses and penetrate.

When looking for a natural point guard, 21-year-old Matthew Strazel, who is entering his fifth EuroLeague campaign, is the top option. Another EuroLeague debutant is swingman Terry Tarpey. A do-it-all type of player, Tarpey is a French national team player who will help the team on both ends. Fellow small forward Alpha Diallo was a Swiss Army knife for Monaco last season as he ranked among the team's top four in every major statistical category despite coming off the bench in more than half of his appearances.

FRONTCOURT

Coach Obradovic will enjoy great depth this season thanks to a versatile group of forwards who can allow him to play with big or small lineups. John Brown has been one of the top defenders in the league and can spend time at both the '3' and '4' spots. Though he is less of an offensive threat, Brown was among the league's top 10 in offensive rebounds last season. After earning All-EuroCup honors two seasons ago, Jaron Blossomgame was a part-time starter last season as a EuroLeague rookie and could take a step forward now in Year 2.

One of only two new faces in the frontcourt, Petr Cornelie helped Real Madrid win the EuroLeague last season. A classic stretch-4, Cornelie should benefit from all the attention paid to Monaco's backcourt stars as, at 2.11 meters, he can exploit mismatches on the perimeter and the blocks. One of the best athletes his size in the league, Yoan Makoundou showed glimpses of his potential last season as a rookie and will look to earn a bigger role this time around.

As impressive as Monaco's backcourt depth is, the team is just as stacked at center. Starting center Donatas Motiejunas returns to give the team a low-post presence on offense and physicality in the paint. He is also the most experienced of the Monaco bigs. Donta Hall has been one of the most effective players in the league over the past two seasons. The perfect pick-and-roll finisher for the Monaco guards, Hall's high-flying style also lends itself to big plays on the defensive end. Mam Jaiteh joins after a strong season with Virtus Segafredo Bologna and can serve as a blend between the other two '5's on the roster, giving the team a guaranteed 40 minutes of strong play in the paint plus the potential to use twin-tower looks, too.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Though he may have played more professional basketball games than anyone else on the Monaco roster, Kemba Walker is the least experienced player when it comes to European basketball. All eyes will rest on Walker as the season begins with fans, players and coaches alike curious to see if Walker can adapt his game to the European style and duplicate the magic that made him a star in the NBA.

Skill-wise, there should be no doubts. Moreover, Walker has a deep and experienced team to lean on as he adapts and the bevy of guards who can both create and score should help make things easier for him. Regardless of how things play out, it is safe to say that the masses will be paying attention, making Walker an obvious player to watch.

OUTLOOK

The Monaco arrow is pointing up and the team made it a point to bring back the head coach plus 10 players from last season's Final Four squad and then to make four top-tier additions. On paper, this roster is a title contender. The only real question is whether the Walker experiment puts Monaco over the top or has unintended consequences on what a deep backcourt was already. It may be a gamble, but it has the upside of a championship coming to the principality.