After spending two years in Phoenix, and battling with injuries, Elie Okobo decided to sign a one-year deal overseas in his native country, France, for Tony Parker’s ASVEL. At 24, Okobo is playing for the first time in his career in Europe’s top-tier league, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Per Alberto De Roa’s advanced Global Rating statistic, Okobo is the third-best player in the competition behind former NBAers Nikola Mirotic and Edy Tavares. He’s also leading the EuroLeague in scoring at 19.6 ppg on 55.3 percent shooting (51.0 percent from beyond the arc).
Okobo discussed his great start to the season, the potential of an NBA return next summer, Parker as a mentor, and whether a top-tier EuroLeague team would make the NBA playoffs with HoopsHype.
This interview has been edited for clarity.