{"id":315047,"date":"2025-09-18T16:06:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2025\/09\/mike-james-strazels-return-new-arena-and-recruits-objectives-the-roca-team-gets-back-to-work\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T16:14:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:14:57","slug":"mike-james-strazels-return-new-arena-and-recruits-objectives-the-roca-team-gets-back-to-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2025\/09\/mike-james-strazels-return-new-arena-and-recruits-objectives-the-roca-team-gets-back-to-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike James, Strazel’s return, new arena and recruits, objectives: the Roca Team gets back to work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last season’s European runners-up, AS Monaco Basket, launched its 2025-2026 season with a press conference at the Caf\u00e9 de la Rotonde, in Monaco’s casino.<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n

Alongside President Alekszej Fedoricsev and General Manager Oleksiy Yefimov, several of the team’s players – Matthew Strazel, Alpha Diallo and star recruit Nikola Mirotic – spoke about the club’s ambitions.<\/p>\n\n

AS Monaco Basket set out its objectives, four days before its official opening game against Boulazac in the Supercup. With the arrival of Nikola Mirotic, Matthew Strazel back at 100% and plans for a new arena in the Principality, the Roca Team is showing it’s out to conquer.<\/p>\n\n

Mike James: to stay or not to stay, that is the question<\/h2>\n\n

After\u00a0a mixed season<\/a>\u00a0of ups and downs, the American point guard’s future and his status as captain are uncertain heading into the new season. Regarding the captaincy, President Alekszej Fedoricsev answered the question himself:\u00a0“That’s never my decision, it’s always the team’s decision. The team will choose the captain.”<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n

\n
\"as-monaco-basket-rentree-mike-james-strazel\"

Alekszej Fedoricsev is waiting for his new captain \u00a9 Lo\u00efc SAVARESSE – Monaco Tribune<\/em><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

As for the American star’s dedication, General Manager Oleksiy Yefimov spoke in reassuring terms: “I believe he is fully committed. He’s hungry, he’s motivated, he’s ready. We didn’t have to convince him to wear the ASM shirt. The whole dressing room thinks the same, we all have the same objective.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n\n

Mirotic, a legend comes to Monaco<\/h2>\n\n

Euroleague MVP in 2019, the Spanish international, who has previously played for the Chicago Bulls, brings all his experience to a squad that is high on ambition. “At 34, I want to win, and that’s why I came here. I see this club as very ambitious, with big goals, wanting to build something special.”<\/em>\u00a0He has never won a title in the EuroLeague, despite his immense list of achievements, and he shares that objective with his new team-mates. “We have two MVPs in the team, but we’re missing the trophy.”<\/em>\u00a0Having already played at Gaston M\u00e9decin several times, especially with Milan, the strong winger said he had fond memories of a venue where he played several\u00a0“good games”<\/em>, after which he was gently teased by his new team-mate Alpha Diallo\u00a0“and some not so good ones.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n\n

Matthew Strazel, a leader at heart<\/h2>\n\n

Strazel was called up to the French squad for this summer’s Eurobasket, but had to leave his team-mates prematurely\u00a0due to injury<\/a>. It was a very frustrating time:\u00a0“It was one of the first times in my entire career that I’ve missed an event because of injury.<\/em>\u00a0But that’s behind me.”<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n

\n
\"as-as-monaco-basket-rentree-mike-james-strazel-basket-rentree-mike-james-strazel\"

“I’m back at 100%,” said Matthew Strazel after an eventful summer \u00a9 Lo\u00efc SAVARESSE – Monaco Tribune<\/em><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Ambitious and determined, voted last season’s MVP by the supporters, he is confident, but stayed vague about a potential future captaincy.\u00a0 “I don’t know if it’s my team yet… I want to become one of the leaders in the team so that I can take it as far as possible.”<\/em>\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n\n