In the 2020 NBA Draft, Theo Maledon was selected early in the second round (34th overall). He has spent each of the previous four seasons playing in the NBA but was not signed for this year. Instead, he is playing this season for ASVEL based in France in the EuroLeague.
ASVEL’s team president is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. He believes that Maledon has suitors in the NBA where he could rejoin the league next season.
Tony Parker Believes Former NBA PG Could Return To League
Tony Parker Is President Of French Club
The team president of ASVEL is none other than the great Tony Parker. You may remember him for winning four titles with the San Antonio Spurs and being named the 2007 Finals MVP.
The 42-year-old has presided over a team that rosters four-year NBA veteran, Theo Maledon. Parker gave comments that could lead many to believe a return to the NBA is in the cards for Maledon. In an interview with RMC Sport, Parker said,
“I would love for him to stay at ASVEL but it is impossible. He will either go to Real Madrid, in a big EuroLeague club, or return to the NBA. I have general managers calling me all the time for Theo. I think he will have offers from the NBA next year.”
Now 23 years old, Maledon has certainly flourished in his time with the French club. In 22 EuroLeague outings, the 6-foot-4 point guard has posted averages of 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.0 steals. He has shot 45.7% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc, and 88.9% from the free-throw line.
Theo Maledon Has Played 4 Seasons In The NBA
It can be hard to remember, but it wasn’t that long ago that the Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the worst teams in the league. That included Maledon’s rookie season with them in 2020-21. On a 22-50 team, he started 49 of his 65 appearances. That season, Maledon averaged 10.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 0.9 steals. On a bad team, he was rather inefficient as evidenced by his 36.8 field goal percentage and 33.5 three-point percentage.
Maledon played one more season for Oklahoma City. While the team struggled just as they did the previous season (24-58), he saw less playing time with seven starts in 51 outings. The team drafted Josh Giddey and Aaron Wiggins in 2021, who took some playing time away from Maledon.
In September of 2022, Maledon was traded to the Houston Rockets. Before the regular season began, he was waived by the team. Soon after, he agreed to a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. Maledon played 44 games for them in 2022-23 and started the following season also with them on a two-way deal. Charlotte waived him December of 2023 before he was picked up off waivers by the Phoenix Suns a few days later. He appeared in just four games for Phoenix before being waived in March of 2024.
All in all, Maledon has appeared in 177 games (64 starts in the NBA). His career averages include 7.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.7 steals in 21.2 minutes. With his success overseas, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he’s back in the league for the 2025-26 season.
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