Elie Chamoun’s Return: A Blessing for Lebanese Basketball… and a Wake-Up Call

There are moments in sports that leave you unsure how to feel. Proud. Impressed. Concerned. Maybe all at once.

Elie Chamoun’s return to Lebanese basketball feels exactly like that.

After being away from the local scene for nearly three years, Chamoun came back and didn’t need much time to remind everyone who he is. In fact, he didn’t just remind people — he immediately separated himself. Today, he is statistically one of the most efficient shooters in the league, and arguably the best three-point shooter in Lebanon right now.

That alone is impressive.

But it also raises uncomfortable questions.

Chamoun is averaging 13.7 points per game in around 24 minutes, shooting 53% on two-pointers and an outstanding 47% from beyond the arc. Those numbers are elite by any standard. Game after game, he shows confidence, balance, and a quick release that very few local players possess.

Look at his recent performances:

• 17 points and 8 assists vs Batroun
• 15 points vs Sagesse
• 25 points vs Maristes
• 15 points and 5 rebounds vs Tadamon Hrajel

He scores off movement, off the dribble, in catch-and-shoot situations, and under pressure. This isn’t a hot streak. This looks sustainable.

So yes — massive credit to Elie Chamoun.

Coming back after such a long absence and immediately performing at this level is not easy. It speaks to his professionalism, his work ethic, and the countless hours he must have spent sharpening his game away from the spotlight. He clearly put in the work.

But here is where the other side of the story begins.

How is it possible that a player who has been away from Lebanese competition for years returns and instantly becomes the most reliable shooter in the country?

That is not a shot at Chamoun.

It is a reflection of the current state of player development.

In modern basketball, shooting is no longer a luxury skill. It is a basic requirement. Yet many Lebanese players still struggle with consistency, mechanics, confidence, and shot selection. Too many guards rely on athleticism alone. Too many wings hesitate when they are open. Too few players can stretch the floor.

Chamoun’s success exposes that gap.

He didn’t arrive with superhuman talent. He arrived with a polished fundamental skill that should be far more common.

This is why the feeling is mixed.

We should be happy because Elie Chamoun is back and thriving. Lebanese basketball always benefits when players raise the standard.

But we should also be worried.

Because if one returning player instantly becomes the gold standard for shooting, it means our system is not producing enough shooters.

And that is dangerous in today’s game.

Chamoun’s story should be celebrated — but also studied.

What did he do differently?
How did he train?
What habits did he build?
What environments helped him grow?

Those answers matter more than his stat line.

If Lebanese basketball wants to progress, it must treat shooting development as a priority, not an afterthought. More shooting coaches. More repetitions. Better fundamentals at youth level. More accountability.

Elie Chamoun deserves his flowers.

At the same time, his rise is a mirror being held up to the league.

And mirrors don’t lie.

Maybe we can be proud and concerned at the same time.

And maybe… that’s exactly what growth starts with.