Despite initial high expectations, Francesco Tabellini’s tenure as head coach of Paris Basketball was short-lived. A series of three consecutive defeats, culminating in an 85-95 loss to Bourg this Sunday, led to the club’s separation from the Italian coach on Monday.
To replace him until the end of the season, Paris Basketball has appointed 28-year-old Julius Thomas. A former assistant to Tuomas Iisalo in 2023, the German is set to embark on his first experience as a head coach and is expected to maintain the established playing identity.
Paris Basketball Statement
Paris Basketball announced the termination of its collaboration with head coach Francesco Tabellini. Julius Thomas, previously an associate coach, will take over as interim head coach until the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Currently, the team holds a record of 12 wins and 21 losses in the EuroLeague, with five games remaining, and 16 wins and 7 losses in Betclic ÉLITE. Upcoming fixtures include an away game at Dijon this Friday and hosting Olimpia Milano at the adidas arena on April 2nd.
Club President David Kahn praised Tabellini’s efforts: “Francesco worked tirelessly to support the progress of Paris Basketball, an ambitious young club with an innovative playing style on the European scene. He always demonstrated professionalism and intelligence in his statements.” Kahn also highlighted the prestigious victories achieved under Tabellini’s leadership, notably against Real Madrid, Partizan Belgrade, FC Barcelona, and Panathinaïkos, underscoring his ability to perform at the highest level. The club wished him every success in his future career.
At 28, Julius Thomas becomes the youngest head coach in EuroLeague history, demonstrating Paris Basketball’s trust in young talent. Having joined the staff in 2023 under Tuomas Iisalo, Julius Thomas actively contributed to shaping the team’s playing identity and is fully aligned with the Parisian club’s project. He later continued as an assistant under Tiago Splitter. Both Tuomas Iisalo and Tiago Splitter have since advanced to head coaching roles, including some in the NBA.
David Kahn concluded by stating: “Like our principal owner Eric Schwartz, I look forward to working closely with Julius to finish the season in the best possible way.”
