By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Since the recent Paris Games, the wheels have been turning on both sides of the Atlantic. The NBA has practically announced its interest in Europe and the possible institution of an “independent league.”
Many reports have been made on possible NBA plans, including those of Eurohoops. However, everyone agrees that the whole concept is not finalized yet, and everything is on the table.
According to Eurohoops sources, a new meeting between EuroLeague, the NBA, and FIBA is not out of the question.
The communication channels between the NBA and EuroLeague remain open, while FIBA has been aligned with the NBA as a partner.
It’s interesting to see FIBA giving its seal of approval to a private US entity willing to come to Europe while having a long-term debate with EuroLeague, a private European league. However, FIBA has stated numerous times that the ideal arrangement would be for all basketball stakeholders to work together.
Having said that, while no option for collaboration has been entirely ruled out, past meetings between the EuroLeague, the NBA, and FIBA failed to produce any result.
On the contrary, the theoretical project roughly presented by the NBA was not satisfactory, and the talks never took off since the financial data were not much different compared to the current status quo.
It has to be noted that since then, the EuroLeague evaluation done by external audits is at least one billion euros, and this number is expected to be confirmed practically upon the completion of the long-reported ownership share sale to British international investment firm BC Partners.