Paris Basketball announced on Monday, March 23, that it has parted ways with head coach Francesco Tabellini and appointed 27-year-old Julius Thomas as interim head coach for the rest of the season.
The French club currently sits 17th in the EuroLeague standings with a 12-21 record, highlighting defensive struggles that have hampered its playoff chances.
The team statement said Tabellini would receive best wishes for his future career, while Thomas’s appointment demonstrates Paris Basketball’s commitment to giving opportunities to young coaching talent.
Thomas becomes the youngest head coach in EuroLeague and Betclic Élite history, continuing the club’s strategy of promoting staff familiar with its style of play.
Since joining Paris in the summer of 2023, Thomas has worked under Tuomas Iisalo and later alongside Tiago Splitter, helping establish the pace-and-space identity that defined the team’s approach in recent seasons.
From a basketball perspective, the timing of the change aims to stabilize systems rather than completely overhaul the team’s structure during the season.
Offensively, Paris relies heavily on guards, with Nadir Hifi averaging 19.0 points per game and Justin Robinson contributing 14.5 points and 4.5 assists per outing.
Perimeter shooting has been effective, as Jared Rhoden connects on 43.3% of his three-point attempts, but the team’s interior efficiency remains inconsistent, despite contributions from Allan Dokossi and Mouhamed Faye on rebounds and second-chance opportunities.
Thomas’s familiarity with the club’s philosophy could minimize disruption, as midseason coaching changes often create gaps in spacing and defensive communication.
Paris Basketball leadership expressed confidence in Thomas, noting that executives David Kahn and Éric Schwartz are eager to work with him to complete the campaign.
