Paris Lee is expected to be one of the key players of the ASVEL Villeurbanne backcourt next season.
Paris Lee is expected to return to France. The 28-year-old, 1.84m guard is finalizing an agreement with ASVEL Villeurbanne, sources tell BasketNews.
Lee would play in France after a one-year break from his time with Panathinaikos Athens.
Paris Lee had been inclined to stay in Athens for longer, but the player did not fit into the plans of Panathinaikos' new coach, Ergin Ataman.
"I heard rumors that Dimitris Giannakopoulos and everybody, for the most part, wanted me to come back. From what I've heard, it was the coach's decision," Lee spoke about his time with Panathinaikos in an extended interview with BasketNews.
"It's a business, so there's no hard feelings. He had a plan and a project of what he wanted to do. I just wasn't part of it. I have the utmost respect for Pana fans and the organization," he clarified.
In the 2021-22 season, the American made his EuroLeague debut with AS Monaco, following his time representing Orleans Loiret Basket in the 2020-21 season.
In the past EuroLeague season, Lee averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in 27 minutes of play.
Lee exceeded the 20-point mark on four occasions, with his highest-scoring games of the season against Valencia Basket (25 points) and Zalgiris Kaunas (24 points).
The player also set a personal EuroLeague career record with 11 assists against Bayern Munich.
According to BBallytics data, Lee was ranked second among the Panathinaikos players regarding positive defensive impact in the EuroLeague, trailing only Georgios Papagiannis.
 | LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | |
| Position | Player | Status |
| PG | Frank Jackson (story) | Signed until 2024 |
| PG/SG | Boris Dallo (story) | Signed until 2024 |
| SG | Nando De Colo | Signed until 2024 |
| SF | David Lighty | Signed until 2026 |
| SF | Charles Kahudi | Signed until 2024 |
| SF | Yves Pons | Signed until 2024 |
| SF/PF | Mbaye Ndiaye (story) | Signed until 2027 |
| PF | Amine Noua | Signed until 2024 |
| C | Yousoupha Fall | Signed until 2024 |
| C | Joffrey Lauvergne | Signed until 2024 |
| C | John Egbunu (story) | Signed until 2024 |
| Coach | TJ Parker (signed until 2026) | |
| Expired contract | Alex Tyus, Dee Bost, Retin Obasohan (will not return), Jonah Matthews (will not return) | |
| Rumored to leave | Zaccharie Risacher (will not return), Antoine Diot (will not return) | |
| Interested | Paris Lee | |
More ASVEL transfer news:
- Frank Jackson signs for ASVEL
- ASVEL sign big man John Egbunu
- Boris Dallo signs for ASVEL
- ASVEL talent Zaccharie Risacher to choose Wembanyama path and leave team
- Antoine Diot leaves ASVEL for another French team
- Mbaye Ndiaye becomes ASVEL's first signing on long-term deal
