By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A new professional league in Europe, with NBA Europe currently used as a calling card, has been on the agenda in recent talks between Euroleague Basketball and the NBA. After the clubs/shareholders of Euroleague Basketball met with NBA officials in Geneva, as part of an initiative by FIBA to discuss the future of European basketball, the overall approach by each of the involved parties was positive.
“It is becoming more obvious that we have to work together,” Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas told The Athletic, confirming the progress mentioned above, “I believe it is the first meeting of many where we should find ways to grow basketball. FIBA’s wishes are clear and simple and easy to get to. So it is up to both leagues to find ways to grow European basketball. Our history and fan base and teams would be a strong backbone to build on.”
“It was really the first time that all three parties, including the clubs, had sat down together to talk about what the future of European basketball should look like,” added the deputy commissioner of the NBA, Mark Tatum, “So I’d say there was a really productive, good conversations there. Out of that came several conversations directly with clubs, but I think everyone is of that mindset that there’s a bigger opportunity for us to grow the game of basketball in Europe, and now it’s just about figuring out what the right model is to do that.”
NBA Europe is expected to launch in two or three years, as projected by NBA commissioner Adam Silver. However, ALBA Berlin has already completed a move from Euroleague Basketball competitions and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to the Basketball Champions League, the top-tier club continental competition of FIBA Europe. Other similar moves viewed as teams intending to eventually participate in a revamped top-tier European league featured ACB clubs Dreamland Gran Canaria and Joventut Badalona, also joining the BCL.
“Our vision is that we are going to be operating the top-tier league in Europe,” Tatum also went into covering the requirements of more teams and fans around the Old Continent, “Clearly, the EuroLeague, I think, has done a pretty nice job of growing the game, but there are millions of fans that argue the service in that model, and like I said, they’re one of the stakeholders there. So to the extent that they’re interested and engaged with us on how to create the best model, yes, we’re wanting to continue to have those conversations.”
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net