By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Galatasaray MCT Technic is positioned to make a major leap into a projected new top-tier continental league, with the club heavily preparing to join the NBA Europe initiative.
Mecit Mert Cetinkaya, a prominent Galatasaray SK board member and the executive leading the club’s basketball branch, confirmed that the Istanbul-based sports giant has been steadily aligning its strategic operations with this new league, which is backed by both FIBA and the NBA. The 48-year-old sports administrator and maritime executive shared critical insights during an interview with A Spor on Wednesday.
“The NBA Europe project has been under development for many years. Our new arena and facility development efforts have played a significant role in this process,” Cetinkaya explained regarding the structural foundations enabling this athletic evolution, pointing out how the club’s long-term investments are converging toward this milestone.
A central pillar of this ongoing transition is an infrastructural expansion, where a state-of-the-art, 15,000-seat arena is currently set to become the epicenter of their future continental campaign. These upcoming facility upgrades have effectively placed the Turkish sports giant as a premier candidate for the revamped continental layout. Reflecting on the global appeal of the club’s passionate basketball culture and modernizing headquarters, the executive expressed immense confidence regarding the timeline and ultimate success of the partnership.
“The sheer size of our fanbase, the atmosphere, the new facilities, and Galatasaray’s potential have greatly impressed NBA Europe. Unless there’s a major setback, we believe Galatasaray will be part of this project next year,” said Cetinkaya.
Looking ahead, the Lions are set to compete in the 2026–27 Basketball Champions League season, aiming to secure a berth in NBA Europe via allocated spots.
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