By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Jordi Bertomeu has been the EuroLeague CEO for 22 years, while also being one of the men behind the creation of what would have become the league of reference for European basketball.
With another project seeing the light in the upcoming project, as shared by NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, and FIBA Secretary General, Andreas Zagklis, one of the former leaders of EuroLeague Basketball isn’t thrilled about the NBA launching a new league in Europe.
Interviewed by Il Corriere della Sera, he described the future NBA Europe as a potential development league for the NBA, similar to what has happened in Africa.
“In Africa, the NBA has already landed for quite some years, but nobody talks about it. The movement there hasn’t grown, but the Americans control all the talents coming out of the continent. And in Europe, it would be the same,” Bertomeu said.
“The fact that MVPs in the NBA have recently been Europeans speaks to their interest in our basketball. They want to control it,” the former EuroLeague CEO frankly expressed.
Jordi Bertomeu also touched on the EuroLeague’s recent struggles. “It’s true that in the last three years, the EuroLeague has had two CEOs after 22 years with one. It’s also true that no one understands where the EuroLeague is headed, and it’s evident to everyone that there are internal difficulties.”
“The NBA has smelled blood and seen it as a chance to take advantage. The EuroLeague’s weakness and its lack of planning have allowed them to step in. Five years ago, such a scenario would’ve been unthinkable,” he concluded.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague