By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Speaking at the launch of the 21st Pau Gasol Academy in Barcelona, former NBA and EuroLeague star Pau Gasol addressed two of the most pressing topics in international basketball—NBA expansion into Europe and the growing trend of young European talents leaving for U.S. college basketball.
On the potential arrival of the NBA in Europe, Gasol was cautiously optimistic:
“There’s work being done; it’s in progress. I see an initiative to improve the European basketball model, and it’s an opportunity for our sport to grow. We’ll see how it shapes up and how it progresses,” Gasol said, per MARCA.
However, he emphasized the need for structural changes within Europe:
“The European basketball model must evolve and improve. Economically, it’s not sustainable, and the vast majority of teams are losing money,” added Gasol, who sees himself in a “privileged position” to serve as a bridge between both worlds.
When asked about the wave of young European players heading to NCAA programs, Gasol acknowledged the challenges local clubs face:
“It’s one of FIBA’s priorities—regulating and protecting. If someone decides to leave, there should be some form of compensation for training rights. It’s a new situation that didn’t exist until now.”
He also noted that “significant contracts” are being offered that local clubs “cannot compete with.”
“That’s a factor that’s missing. I’d like to see long-term projects. Right now, everything is short-term. Players don’t have much continuity,” he reflected.