Hugo Besson Explained

Hugo Besson
Position:Shooting guard / point guard
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:196
League:LBA
Team:Pallacanestro Varese
Number:25
Birth Date:2001 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Angers, France
Draft Year:2022
Draft Round:2
Draft Pick:58
Draft Team:Indiana Pacers
Career Start:2018
Years1:2018–2021
Team1:Élan Chalon
Years2:2020–2021
Team2:Saint-Quentin BB
Years3:2021–2022
Team3:New Zealand Breakers
Years4:2022–2023
Team4:Metropolitans 92
Years5:2023–2024
Team5:FMP Meridian
Years6:2024–present
Team6:Openjobmetis Varese
Highlights:

Hugo Besson (born 26 April 2001) is a French professional basketball player for Openjobmetis Varese of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He debuted in the LNB Pro A in 2018 with Élan Chalon. After two seasons with Chalon, he was loaned to Saint-Quentin BB of the LNB Pro B and led the league in scoring in the 2020–21 season. After a season with the New Zealand Breakers in the Australian NBL, he was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 58th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.

Early life and career

Besson was born in Angers, France.[1] He grew up in the Côte d'Azur town of Bandol.[2] He started his youth basketball career in 2016 as a member of the Antibes Sharks. He averaged 5.1 points in 15 games with the Under 21 team during the 2016–17 season.[3] He joined Élan Chalon in 2017 and played for the Under 21 team. In 27 games during the 2017–18 season, he averaged 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.

Professional career

Élan Chalon (2018–2021)

Between 2018 and 2020, Besson was a member of the Élan Chalon senior squad. He played 14 games in the LNB Pro A over two seasons.[4] In the ProA U21 competition, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 steals in 28 games during the 2018–19 season, and 26.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in six games during the 2019–20 season.

In June 2020, Besson signed a three-year contract with Élan Chalon and was subsequently loaned to Saint-Quentin BB of the LNB Pro B.[5] He led the league in scoring during the 2020–21 season with 19.5 points per game. He also averaged 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 steals in 26 games. He was nominated for league MVP[6] and earned all-star five and best youngster.[7] His No. 25 jersey was later retired by Saint-Quentin BB.[8]

2021 off-season

Besson was courted by several European clubs during 2021, including Baskonia and ASVEL, and was in the running for the NBA draft.[9] He withdrew his name from the draft after being unable to participate in work-outs due to an ankle injury. In August 2021, he was ranked by ESPN as the 35th top prospect for the 2022 NBA draft.[10]

New Zealand Breakers (2021–2022)

On 23 September 2021, Besson signed with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2021–22 season.[11] [12] In his debut for the Breakers on 4 December, he scored 10 points in an 89–65 season-opening loss to the South East Melbourne Phoenix.[13] He scored 20 or more points in each of the next three games.[14] [15] He had two 20-point games in March 2022. Besson left the Breakers on 17 April 2022 in order to prepare for the NBA draft.[16] [17] In 25 games, he averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

NBA draft and Summer League

Besson was selected with the 58th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. His draft rights were then immediately traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.[18] He joined the Bucks for the 2022 NBA Summer League.[19]

Metropolitans 92 (2022–2023)

On 13 August 2022, Besson signed with Metropolitans 92 of the LNB Pro A.[20] He was sidelined between 9 January and 16 May with a hip injury.[21] [22] His minutes decreased after returning from injury, as he helped the team reach the Pro A finals, where they lost 3–0 to Monaco. Besson played just five minutes from the bench in the game three defeat.[23] In 25 games, he averaged 9.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Besson re-joined the Milwaukee Bucks for the 2023 NBA Summer League.[24]

FMP Meridian (2023–2024)

On 30 September 2023, Besson signed a two-year deal with FMP Meridian of the Basketball League of Serbia and the Adriatic League.[25] However, on 11 February 2024, he parted ways with the club.[26]

Openjobmetis Varese (2024–present)

On 26 February 2024, Besson signed with Openjobmetis Varese of the Lega Basket Serie A.[27]

National team career

In June 2021, Besson was called up to the French Under 20 national team ahead of the FIBA U20 European Challengers.[28] He ultimately did not play with the final team.[29] [30]

Personal life

Besson's father, uncle, and grandfather have all played and coached professional basketball.[31] [32] He has a sister named Jade.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hugo Besson. NBA.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709092058/https://www.nba.com/draft/2021/prospects/hugo-besson. 9 July 2021.
  2. Web site: Hinton. Marc. Hungry like the Wolf – Breakers standout Hugo Besson takes his best shot at the NBA. Stuff.co.nz. 26 December 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211225161204/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300485802/hungry-like-the-wolf--breakers-standout-hugo-besson-takes-his-best-shot-at-the-nba. 25 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Hugo Besson. australiabasket.com. 9 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Hugo Besson. LNB.fr. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709092913/https://www.lnb.fr/fr/academy/joueurs/hugo-besson-A72666.html. 9 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Pantel-Jouve. Gabriel. HUGO BESSON SIGNE 3 ANS À L'ELAN CHALON ET SE FAIT PRÊTER À SAINT-QUENTIN. bebasket.fr. 19 June 2020. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709102012/https://www.bebasket.fr/championnat-jeep-elite/hugo-besson-signe-3-ans-a-l-elan-chalon-et-se-fait-preter-a-saint-quentin.html. 9 July 2021. French.
  6. Web site: Trophées LNB : les nommés en PROB !. LNB.fr. 8 June 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709095445/https://www.lnb.fr/fr/article/trophees-lnb-les-nommes-en-prob-15429.html. 9 July 2021. French.
  7. Web site: Trophées LNB : les lauréats en PROB. LNB.fr. 23 June 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709095737/https://www.lnb.fr/fr/article/trophees-lnb-les-laureats-en-prob-15473.html. 9 July 2021. French.
  8. Web site: Rutard. Sacha. Vidéo : Saint-Quentin a retiré le maillot n°25 de Hugo Besson. basketeurope.com. 30 April 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430153014/https://www.basketeurope.com/livenews-fr/599680/video-saint-quentin-a-retire-le-maillot-n25-de-hugo-besson/. 30 April 2022. 18 July 2022. French.
  9. Web site: Pantel-Jouve. Gabriel. HUGO BESSON VA REJOINDRE OUSMANE DIENG AUX NEW ZEALAND BREAKERS. bebasket.fr. 9 July 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709094343/https://www.bebasket.fr/championnat-a-l-etranger/hugo-besson-va-rejoindre-ousmane-dieng-aux-new-zealand-breakers.html. 9 July 2021. French.
  10. Web site: Santamaria. Liam. NBL22 Roster Watch. NBL.com.au. 28 August 2021. 28 August 2021. This week ESPN ranked Besson, who is already in Auckland, as the 35th top prospect for next year's draft..
  11. Web site: Breakers Add French Prospect Hugo Besson. NBL.com.au. 23 September 2021. 23 September 2021.
  12. Web site: Hinton. Marc. NZ Breakers announce French guard Hugo Besson as second import for NBL '22. Stuff.co.nz. 23 September 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923011206/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300413886/nz-breakers-announce-french-guard-hugo-besson-as-second-import-for-nbl-22. 23 September 2021.
  13. Web site: Hinton. Marc. NZ Breakers thumped by slick SEM Phoenix in disappointing NBL season opener. Stuff.co.nz. 4 December 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211204111028/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300470638/nz-breakers-thumped-by-slick-sem-phoenix-in-disappointing-nbl-season-opener. 4 December 2021.
  14. Web site: Hugo Besson. NBL.com.au. 17 April 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220417075224/https://nbl.com.au/player/3684/1694603/hugo-besson. 17 April 2022.
  15. Web site: Hinton. Marc. NZ Breakers battle hard but sink to 0-2 in NBL with second defeat to SEM Phoenix. Stuff.co.nz. 10 December 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211210141754/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/300475814/nz-breakers-battle-hard-but-sink-to-02-in-nbl-with-second-defeat-to-sem-phoenix. 10 December 2021.
  16. Web site: Dieng, Besson Turn Attention to NBA Draft. NBL.com.au. 17 April 2022. 17 April 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220417074027/https://nbl.com.au/news/dieng-besson-turn-attention-to-nba-draft. 17 April 2022.
  17. News: Breakers' Young Stars to Prepare for 2022 NBA Draft. nzbreakers.basketball. 17 April 2022. 17 April 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220417075511/https://www.nzbreakers.basketball/news/breakers-young-stars-to-prepare-for-2022-nba-draft. 17 April 2022.
  18. Web site: Bucks' Hugo Besson: Taken No. 58 by Milwaukee. cbssports.com. 24 June 2022. 24 June 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220624100647/https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/bucks-hugo-besson-taken-no-58-by-milwaukee/. 24 June 2022.
  19. Web site: Milwaukee Bucks Announce 2022 Summer League Roster. NBA.com. 5 July 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220706013926/https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-announce-2022-summer-league-roster. 6 July 2022.
  20. Web site: Hugo Besson s'engage avec les Metropolitans 92. metropolitans92.com. 13 August 2022. 17 August 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220817140730/https://www.metropolitans92.com/fr/actualites/2022-08-13/hugo-besson-s-engage-avec-les-metropolitans-92. 17 August 2022. French.
  21. Web site: Boulogne-Levallois : Hugo Besson opéré avec succès. basketeurope.com. 9 February 2023. 16 June 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230616055740/https://www.basketeurope.com/livenews-fr/651597/boulogne-levallois-hugo-besson-opere-avec-succes/. 16 June 2023. French.
  22. Web site: Hugo Besson. eurobasket.com. 16 June 2023. subscription.
  23. Web site: Woods. Dan. Championship Heartbreak for NBL23 Stars. NBL.com.au. 16 June 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230616054349/https://nbl.com.au/news/championship-heartbreak-for-nbl23-stars. 16 June 2023.
  24. Web site: Milwaukee Bucks announce roster for NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023. NBA.com. 30 June 2023. 7 July 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20230630195716/https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/milwaukee-bucks-announce-roster-for-nba-2k24-summer-league-2023. 30 June 2023.
  25. Web site: Beson novi bek KK FMP SoccerBet. KKFMP.rs. 30 September 2023. 1 October 2023. Serbian.
  26. Web site: Igo Beson nije više prvotimac KK FMP SoccerBet. KKFMP.rs. 11 February 2024. 18 February 2024. Serbian.
  27. Web site: HUGO BESSON È UN NUOVO GIOCATORE DELLA PALLACANESTRO VARESE. PallacanestroVarese.it. 26 February 2024. 26 February 2024. Italian.
  28. Web site: Basket-ball. Matthieu Gauzin (Champagne Basket) et Hugo Besson (Saint-Quentin) appelés en équipe de France U20. lunion.fr. 9 June 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709100748/https://www.lunion.fr/id264136/article/2021-06-09/basket-ball-matthieu-gauzin-champagne-basket-et-hugo-besson-saint-quentin. 9 July 2021. French.
  29. Web site: France – FIBA U20 European Challengers 2021. fiba.basketball. live. https://archive.today/20211003035755/http://www.fiba.basketball/europe/challengers/u20/2021/team/France. 3 October 2021. 3 October 2021.
  30. Web site: Hugo Besson. fiba.basketball. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211003040107/https://www.fiba.basketball/europe/challengers/u20/2021/player/Hugo-BESSON. 3 October 2021.
  31. Web site: Laporte. Francis. Après une saison pleine en Pro B, Hugo Besson, petit-fils de Paul (JA Vichy), vient de signer en Nouvelle-Zélande. lamontagne.fr. 20 July 2021. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210720053857/https://www.lamontagne.fr/vichy-03200/sports/apres-une-saison-pleine-en-pro-b-hugo-besson-petit-fils-de-paul-ja-vichy-vient-de-signer-en-nouvelle-zelande_13986730/. 20 July 2021. 17 December 2021. French.
  32. Web site: Hersz. Tom. Hugo Besson: No Pressure, Just a Game. NBL.com.au. 17 December 2021. 17 December 2021.