Daniel Theis will not be playing for ASVEL Villeurbanne. Instead, Maccabi Tel Aviv has now introduced the German World and European champion as its new player.
“He’s a very important player for us,” chairman Shimon Mizrahi is quoted as saying. Coach Oded Katash also expressed his satisfaction. “Theis brings a lot of experience and has seen every level of basketball. He knows what it means to win.”
Several EuroLeague teams had reportedly vied for the 34-year-old, who has now opted for Maccabi—signing a two-year contract. The Israelis finished 12th last season and, due to the political situation in the country, will likely play their home games at a neutral venue for the time being in the upcoming season.
Last summer, Theis had already reached an agreement with the French club ASVEL, but unlike Sylvain Francisco, Nick Weiler-Babb, or Armoni Brooks, he was never officially introduced. However, owner and coach Tony Parker had already revealed that Theis had signed a contract with the French club.
Theis: ASVEL Can’t Meet Budget
However, since an investor at ASVEL was unable to provide the guarantee required by the French tax authorities, the club was unable to meet its targeted budget of just under 60 million euros. Francisco moved to Panathinaikos, and Brooks was loaned to Valencia for a year.
Now Theis is also leaving, without ever having played a game for the French club. The center played for AS Monaco over the past year and a half and reached the EuroLeague Final in 2025. However, the club in the Principality also faced financial problems last season; reports suggest that some salary payments were not made. Nevertheless, Theis played 38 games in the EuroLeague, averaging 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Prior to that, Theis had spent eight years in the NBA. There, the German World and European champion played 411 games for the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, L.A. Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans.
