By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Speaking to China Daily, Tony Parker repeated his belief that the NBA, the EuroLeague, and FIBA must collaborate in one league in Europe.
Parker, who is a shareholder in the EuroLeague as the owner of ASVEL, thinks that NBA Europe is a matter of time to become a reality, and all should be involved in that.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Parker said while visiting Chengdu to promote an NBA-supported street basketball tournament. “If the EuroLeague, the NBA, and FIBA can find a way to work together to build a strong league. That will be amazing for European basketball.”
Parker, who has offered himself to the rest of the EuroLeague as a mediator with the NBA and has been vocal about his opinion, thinks that’s the only way: “At the end of the day, we are talking and we are trying to go in the right direction. For me, as an owner of a French club, having an agreement between the three is the key to the success of European basketball”.
After all, the NBA is coming: “NBA Europe league for me is just a matter of time. They are coming, and it’s going to happen. The NBA is a very strong brand that is recognized around the world, and in Europe, everybody knows the NBA for sure. That’s why I think the NBA can be very helpful to help elevate the game’s profile in Europe.’