By George Adamopoulos / gadamopoulos@eurohoops.net
Makis Angelopoulos, major shareholder of AEK Betsson BC, spoke to Eurohoops about a variety of topics ahead of the Basketball Champions League Final Four in the Greek capital.
AEK is back at the BCL Final Four and is hosting the tournament, with the return of Dragan Šakota being the driving force behind the success.
“In the first year, our goal was to reach the Final Four in the Champions League and be among the last four teams in the domestic league. Next year, we want to take the next step. And in the third year, we want to contend for the league championship,” Angelopoulos said, outlining a three-year plan.
AEK has reached the BCL Final Four and the Greek League semifinals after several difficult years, including sanctions from FIBA.
“We had to find a way to control cash flow. You know that the bans never prevented us from completing a transfer. I think every businessman has waited for some adjustments and a better opportunity. We used that period to come out of a complicated phase with investments in the arena and during the coronavirus pandemic.”
Angelopoulos also reflected on the club’s decision to join the Basketball Champions League.
“It’s a competition that spreads across all of Europe, not just six or seven countries. It also respects national leagues, which is very important. Participation is directly linked to national league results. That upgrades domestic competitions. Playing in continental competitions is a bonus earned through success in national leagues.”
He then addressed the wider European basketball ecosystem, pointing out what he views as “unfair competition”—particularly in contrast to EuroLeague clubs like Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, which receive significantly more revenue.
“Achieving goals depends not only on ambition but also on the environment. And this environment is unfriendly. We are facing imperfect competition. The basketball ecosystem includes a private competition with shareholders who run their own league within Europe. This league does not respect national league standings, which no longer reflect participation. As a result, domestic leagues are downgraded. Revenue from this private league is unreasonably high. So, when these teams compete against us domestically, it creates unfair competition.
The game is not played on equal terms. Even within the EuroLeague, the 11 licensed teams are in a different setting from the remaining seven—and certainly from the teams in the EuroCup.”
Trying to further explain his toughts, he gave a specific example.
“If AEK plays in the EuroCup, wins, and earns a spot in the EuroLeague, the financial terms of participation will be different from Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. They would receive revenues of 2 to 2.5 million euros, plus television rights. AEK, by comparison, would get a participation bonus of 250,000 euros. That doesn’t make sense. Even Gran Canaria earned a EuroLeague spot last year and declined.”
Angelopoulos also touched on the potential NBA European league and the future of club basketball.
“I think the biggest success for FIBA—and personally for Andreas Zagklis—was implementing a plan rooted in FIBA principles, particularly the respect and elevation of domestic leagues. I believe the NBA initially envisioned a closed league. The hard part for Zagklis was explaining that Europe is not like the United States, which is a single country. In that context, a closed league might make sense—but not in Europe.”
He believes AEK will be in a position to participate once such a league materializes.
“I think we’ll have the roster, the gym, and meet all other requirements to bid for a spot in that league. Of course, we would need to qualify through the Greek league,” Angelopoulos concluded in his conversation with Eurohoops.