Betclic ELITE 2025-26 Power Ranking : 16 teams

With three winners in its last four seasons, Betclic ÉLITE is entering a new era marked by ambitious projects on all sides. Paris, Monaco, ASVEL, Le Mans… Never before has France had such an impact on the world of basketball.

As with the EuroLeague power rankings, today we rank teams according to three specific criteria: form, squad strength and stability. And as with the EuroLeague, all the teams are neck and neck.

So, will Paris Basketball achieve back-to-back wins ?

16) Le Portel : A new chapter is beginning at Le Portel. Éric Girard has left, leaving behind a host of uncertainties. Does Kenny Grant have what it takes to keep the team in Betclic ÉLITE? Will this late recruitment pay off at the end of the season? Will the ever-restricted budget hinder last-minute adjustments? To date, the Stelliste squad has too many uncertainties and too many bets on the future to hope to stay up.

15) Saint-Quentin : Much like Le Portel last season, the departure of Julien Mahé makes the 2025-2026 season particularly tricky for Saint-Quentin. Yes, the team’s foundation remains solid with a desire to build for the long term. But the off-season has not been convincing. Between discovering the French league and an overall decline in individual talent, the fate of the SQBB rests largely on Nick Johnson.

14) Gravelines-Dunkerque : In Gravelines-Dunkerque, the focus is on continuity! Jean-Christophe Prat’s team has retained 50% of its roster, including Tajuan Agee, who was rumoured to be leaving. From guard Chris Babb to their new point guard Mike Lewis II, the Northerners combine a crazy offence with a porous defence. The absence of a big man in the paint is too much of an Achilles heel to hope for anything more.

13) Boulazac : Could this be the surprise of the season? The ELITE 2 champions are back in the 1st Division with the determination to stay there. Outsiders on paper, Boulazac have come out of the summer stronger than ever. In addition to extending the contract of star centre Ousman Krubally, Boulazac has thought big with the arrivals of Tony Stell, a forward with 648 NBA games under his belt, and Amit Ebo. The BBD has all the makings of a surprise team, even if the pre-season games have brought their share of injuries.

12) Nancy : The youngest team in the league is proving to be a real force to be reckoned with. On the one hand, Nancy’s enthusiasm is surprising the competition. On the other hand, the team’s inexperience is working against them at key moments in the season. Nancy intrigues and surprises, as evidenced by the signing of Martin Breunig, the first Thai player in the history of Betclic ÉLITE. And despite the fact that no player is taller than 2.05 metres, Landers Nolley II’s stratospheric debut has brought a wave of optimism to the Cougars.

11) Limoges : CSP is entering year two of the Lionel Peluhet project. With Noah Long still scoring impressively after 18 seasons in the top flight, Limoges is finally looking to build on its success. Gone are the days of successive coaches on the green bench. Welcome to stability with the appointment of Dario Gjergja, coach of the Belgian Lions. This is the start of an ambitious new era that will take time to develop, hence the team’s position on the edge of the play-in.

10) Strasbourg : The play-in doors open with Strasbourg 2.0. The rookie team starts this season with the all-time record for the highest number of players fresh out of the NCAA. The last-minute arrival of Abdoulaye Ndoye brings a touch of experience to the Alsatian squad. Given the potential and uncertainties that come with it, it’s difficult to place SIG any lower or higher.

9) Nanterre : After working miracles with Saint-Quentin, Julien Mahé is stepping up a gear with Nanterre. Gone are the days of ‘staying up’ as the goal; now it’s the play-ins at the very least. And to achieve this, he can rely on a balanced roster. A mix of certainties with the Dossou-Yovo – Prkacin inside duo, and potential in the form of young Moukouri. It remains to be seen how this American squad will adapt to FIBA play.

8) Dijon : Watch out for Dijon! The JDA has been known for its spectacular performances in Betclic ÉLITE for several years now. With the return of the winning duo of Legname and Borg, the Burgundians can even hope for direct qualification for the play-offs. David Holston has extended his adventure and Justin Bibbins brings new blood. A solid backcourt that compensates for the risks taken in the frontcourt. The potential is there, now we’ll have to see how it plays out on the court.

7) Élan Chalon : The most impressive team of the second half of the season returns in 2025-2026, this time with no ground to make up. But the question remains: can Elric Delord maintain this momentum throughout the season? In any case, the recruitment and the BCL qualifying tournament show more than encouraging signs. The arrival of Matéo Leray allows Hill to play in his preferred position at point guard, which represents a major upgrade for Chalon.

6) JL Bourg : JL has not slowed down during the off-season. While Frédéric Fauthoux was competing in his first EuroBasket on the French bench, no fewer than 10 new players joined Bourg. This is a complete overhaul for a team that has been a regular semi-finalist since 2022. Backed by a playing philosophy that is as modern as ever, the squad looks very strong on paper. It remains to be seen whether it will all come together.

5) Cholet : A pleasant surprise last season, Cholet is moving forward with the same playing style that took it to the play-offs. At the helm of this team, Fabrice Lefrançois – Betclic ÉLITE’s best coach in 2024-2025 – is banking on his innovative style. However, the summer departures of Diawara, Melvin III and Vautier weigh heavily in the balance. Driven by their senior players, this campaign is one of confirmation for the Choletais.

4) Le Mans : How high can Le Mans go? Guillaume Vizade’s team impressed during the LNB Super Cup and is coming off a particularly successful summer. From retaining key players such as Hudgins to the arrival of two-time MVP Travante Williams, the squad is much stronger than in 2024-2025. We can say with certainty that MSB is no longer looking behind, but rather ahead, ready to overtake one of France’s three leading teams at the slightest sign of underperformance.

3) ASVEL 🥉 : As has been the case for the past three seasons, a clear trio has emerged in Betclic ÉLITE. Or rather a duo, as ASVEL seems to be losing ground. Ranked 18th in our EuroLeague Power Ranking, the high average age and the departure of key players are also working against Villeurbanne in the league. Pierric Poupet’s team still has enough talent to qualify directly for the play-offs. But the battle for the podium is likely to be less straightforward than in previous years.

1) Monaco 🥇 : It’s almost natural that a reinforced Monaco occupies first place in this power ranking. It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the best team ever seen in France. Two of the last four EuroLeague MVPs are in the same starting five, surrounded by Daniel Theis, Élie Okobo, Alpha Diallo and Matthew Strazel. All this is accompanied by a spirit of revenge. No more settling for second place. At the Rock, there is no longer any choice: they must win! A mission that got off to a good start with an easy victory in the LNB Super Cup. Now, the last play-off campaign has perfectly highlighted that the main danger for Monaco… is Monaco !