By Stefan Acevski/ info@eurohoops.net
At the Telekom Arena in Athens, a very interesting press conference of the EHCB was held before the EuroLeague Semifinal matches.
EHCB President Dimitris Itoudis, EHCB Vice-President Giannis Sfairopoulos, and EHCB Executive Director Goran Sasic spoke about some very important topics.
European basketball is at a crossroads, with several very important issues currently in play, and Sasic and the coaches shared their opinions on everything, primarily calling for consensus among all parties.
Itoudis and Sfairopoulos emphasized the importance of a longer preseason, which currently lasts only five weeks before the start of the EuroLeague.
“We have to be honest and understand that sometimes we see players much more motivated during the EuroLeague games and not so much in the domestic league games”, said Itoudis, adding also to the fact that the calendar must be changed.
And while the expansion of the EuroLeague is coming, this doesn’t mean more games. “We know that more teams means also a change in the format, and it’s 4-5 games less in the game”, added Sfairopoulos.
They pointed out that players do not have time to properly prepare their bodies, as many teams play the Supercup and domestic championship matches earlier, and coaches face pressure to deliver results.
Furthermore, there was discussion about the NBA league coming to Europe, and Goran Sasic stressed the importance of reaching an agreement between both sides and negotiating the future.
He also noted that NBA Europe is mainly aimed at football clubs rather than basketball, and so far, the response has not been as expected.
“The UEFA is the example that any international league should follow to maximize and make its product sustainable”, Sasic stated.
Additionally, the coaches highlighted that this season, as many as 10 coaches have been replaced, more than ever, and that coaches need more time to build a good team, chemistry, and ultimately results.
Last but not least, the coaches addressed the issue of NIL deals that are taking all young talent out of European basketball, creating a very different landscape for the sport overall.
The EHCB’s position regarding the EuroLeague’s Financial Fair Play is that it should be amended to avoid preventing teams from competing, specifically with NIL agreements.
“Many teams are thinking of closing junior academies and stopping investment in the development of young players. Why invest if they are going to lose them?” As coaches, we have a strong voice, and we were happy to learn that new CEO Chus Bueno has similar views to us on matters like the NIL and the calendar”, concluded Sfairopoulos.
These kinds of discussions will continue with all stakeholders and also in the EHCB Coaches Congress, which will be held at Telekom Center for the third consecutive year, with EHCB president Dimitris Itoudis thanking Panathinaikos and its owner, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, for their help in the organization.
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