Valencia Basket rebuilds its project after historic Final Four

Valencia Basket faces a transition season after experiencing an extraordinary year that marked a turning point in its European history. The 2025-26 campaign was historic: the team finished second in the regular phase with 25 wins and 13 losses, only behind Olympiacos, accumulating a +175 points differential. In the quarterfinals, Valencia came back from a 0-2 deficit against Panathinaikos to qualify for the Final Four in Athens, demonstrating a resilience that defined that period.

The Roig Arena witnessed this rise with an average attendance of over 12,600 spectators in its first operational year, a figure that ranked among the best in the entire competition. The structure of the pavilion, with a capacity for 15,600 people, became a fundamental asset for the project.

Individually, the season was a showcase of accolades. Jean Montero was named the MVP of the playoffs and received the Rising Star award, while Pedro Martínez received the Gomelskiy award for best coach. In the fifth game against Panathinaikos, Nate Reuvers was named MVP of round 35 with a valuation of 44 points.

The Exodus of Key Figures

None of the three main protagonists of that achievement remain in Valencia. Jean Montero signed with Olympiacos, Brancou Badio returned to Panathinaikos, and Pedro Martínez accepted the challenge of coaching Real Madrid. This simultaneous departure of the three pillars that supported European success marks the turning point of the reconstruction.

The departures extended beyond these names. Jaime Pradilla also left for Real Madrid, while Braxton Key moved to Fenerbahçe. In the NBA, Sergio de Larrea made the jump to the Dallas Mavericks. Other movements completed a significant exodus: Xabi López-Arostegui to La Laguna Tenerife, Isaac Nogués to Joventut, Joel Soriano to Obradoiro, and Matt Costello to Japanese basketball.

The roster that won the series against Panathinaikos by coming back from a 0-2 deficit disintegrated in just three months. Valencia simultaneously lost its offensive generator, its coach, and most of its winning core.

Mirotic as an Anchor and Nine Reconstruction Signings

The club's response has been ambitious but different. Nikola Mirotic arrives from Monaco at 35 years old with a resume that includes EuroLeague MVP. He is, by far, the most important signing in Valencia's recent history, a player called to resolve games that Montero previously solved. However, his age and demanding physical history raise questions about his availability in a 38-game ACB schedule plus the European competition.

In the directing game, Valencia has bet on TJ Shorts, coming from Panathinaikos after being MVP of the play-in, and on Mario Saint-Supéry, a 20-year-old young guard returning from Gonzaga with a long contract. Armoni Brooks arrives on loan from ASVEL, and Gonzalo Corbalán joins from San Pablo Burgos.

In the paint, Dylan Osetkowski is the first signing of the summer from Partizan, while Mo Gueye comes from the G League. Lucas Marí returns after his college stint, and Elias Valtonen signs with a non-guaranteed contract. In total, nine new players aim to reconstitute a project that has lost its identity.

Xavi Albert embarks on his first season as head coach of the project in the EuroLeague, inheriting a very high standard following Pedro Martínez's successes.

Continuity as a Lifeline

Seven players sustain the continuity of the structure. Kam Taylor renewed until 2028 and has become the offensive reference of the remaining block. The perimeter remains with Omari Moore, Josep Puerto, and Álvaro Cárdenas. In the paint, Nate Reuvers, Neal Sako, and Yankuba Sima form the least altered sector of the roster.

Taylor is especially relevant in this new project. His long-term renewal indicates that the club sees him as a cornerstone of a reconstruction projected into the future. His performance will be crucial so that Mirotic does not have to carry all the offensive responsibility.

The Challenges of the New Season

The management of Mirotic is one of the tactical keys. At 35 years old, the forward will not play all 38 ACB games at the highest level. This requires Taylor, Osetkowski, and Gueye to hold the games in January, a particularly demanding month in the European calendar.

Xavi Albert faces his first year in the EuroLeague without a safety net. Anything below the play-in will be interpreted as a regression, even though the roster is objectively less competitive than the previous year. The pressure on the coach is immense.

The Roig Arena emerges as the club's new great asset. A pavilion filled with over fifteen thousand people represents a real advantage in a competition where half the league plays in small facilities or outside their city. This factor will be crucial in the decisive matchups of the season.

Realistic Goals for a Transition Season

Repeating the second place is unrealistic, and in Valencia, they know it. The reasonable goal is to be among the top ten again, fight for the play-in, and keep the club in the European conversation while the project is being rebuilt. Saint-Supéry, Marí, and Corbalán represent the future investment of an institution that needs to think long-term.

If Mirotic stays healthy until March and Shorts performs as he did in Athens, this team could return to the playoffs. If not, it will be a transition season with the consolation of a new pavilion and a young roster that needs maturation. What Valencia accomplished last year was extraordinary, and the extraordinary, by definition, does not happen every year. The new mission is to consolidate a structure that allows for competition in the upcoming seasons from a stronger foundation.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Valencia Basket reconstruye su proyecto tras histórica Final Four