Cholet Basket
French club known for its youth academy and 2010 title.
Cholet Basket is a professional basketball team from Cholet, France, competing in the LNB Pro A. Founded in 1975, the club plays its home games at La Meilleraie. It claimed its first French league title in the 2009–10 season and had previously won the French Cup in 1998 and 1999.
The club debuted in the top division during the 1987–88 season, having taken 12 years to reach the premier league. Once there, it remained competitive, consistently finishing among the top ten teams. A key strength has been its youth academy, which has regularly supplied the first team with talent. In the 2004–05 season, ten of the twelve players on the senior roster came through the club’s youth system. Notable players who started at Cholet include Antoine Rigaudeau, Jim Bilba, and Mickaël Gelabale.
After winning the National Cup in 1999, Cholet qualified for its first Euroleague campaign, finishing with three wins and thirteen losses. In the 2008–09 season, the team lost the EuroChallenge final to Virtus Bologna by a score of 75–77. The 2009–10 season saw Cholet finish first in the Pro A regular season and defeat Le Mans 81–65 in the playoff final to win the championship. That title earned the club a spot in the 2010–11 Euroleague, where it was eliminated in the first round with four wins and six losses—notably defeating previously unbeaten Fenerbahçe Ülker 82–78. The following season, Cholet again finished first in the regular season but lost the final to SLUC Nancy 74–76.
Cholet is one of only seven European clubs to have produced two players selected in the same NBA draft, doing so in 2009 with Rodrigue Beaubois and Nando De Colo. The club’s achievements also include winning the La Semaine des As Cup in 2008, the Match des Champions in 2010, and the French Cup in 1998 and 1999. It has been a finalist in the Pro A playoffs (1988, 2011), the French Cup (2005, 2008), and the Tournoi des As Cup (1988, 1989, 1990, 1993). Cholet also won the second-division championship in 1986.
Quick Facts
- Leagues
- Pro A
- History
- Cholet Basket / (1975–present)
- Arena
- La Meilleraie
- Capacity
- 5,191
- Location
- Cholet, France
- President
- Jerome Merignac
- Vice-Presidents
- Alain Lafat
- Coach
- Fabrice Lefrancois
- Championships
- 1 French Championship / 2 French Cup / 1 La Semaine des As Cup
- Retired Numbers
- 2 (4, 10)
- H Body
- CC0033
- H Pattern B
- _bb_whitetrimnumbers
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cholet Basket debuted in the 1st division in the 1987–88 season and reached the premier league in 12 years. The team consistently ranked in the top 10, sustained by a youth system that produced professional players season after season. After winning the National Cup in 1999, Cholet qualified for its first Euroleague participation, recording 3 victories and 13 defeats. During the 2004–05 season, 10 of the 12 first-team players came from the youth system. Notable players who debuted with the team include Antoine Rigaudeau, Jim Bilba, and Mickaël Gelabale.
In the 2008–2009 season, Cholet lost to Virtus Bologna in the EuroChallenge Final (75–77). In 2010, Cholet finished first in the Pro A regular season and won the championship by defeating Le Mans in the Play-Offs Final (81–65). This title earned automatic qualification for the 2010–2011 Euroleague, where Cholet was eliminated in the first round (4 victories, 6 defeats) after defeating previously unbeaten Fenerbahçe Ülker (82–78). In 2011, Cholet again finished first in the regular season but lost the finals to SLUC Nancy (74–76).
Reader's Guide
Cholet Basket's significance lies in its exceptional youth academy, which has been a consistent pipeline for professional talent. The club is one of only seven European clubs to have provided two players to the same NBA draft in 2009, with Rodrigues Beaubois and Nando De Colo. This achievement places Cholet alongside clubs like Real Madrid and Joventut Badalona. The youth system's impact is evident in the 2004–05 season, when 10 of 12 first-team players were academy products. Cholet's first French championship in 2010 marked a peak, and its Euroleague appearances, including a notable win over Fenerbahçe Ülker, demonstrated competitiveness on the continental stage. The club's legacy is defined by its commitment to developing homegrown talent while achieving domestic success.
Did You Know?
- Cholet won its first French championship in the 2009–10 season.
- In the 2010–2011 Euroleague, Cholet defeated previously unbeaten Fenerbahçe Ülker (82–78).
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