By Javier Molero/ jmolero@eurohoops.net
The debate surrounding the EuroLeague and NBA Europe is growing.
In an interview with Eurohoops and Giorgos Adamopoulos, FC Barcelona forward and ELPA president Toko Shengelia discussed the current state of European basketball and what improvements he suggested to reach a common ground.
“If Euroleague has to worry or not, if NBA Europe has to worry or not… I would say only time can tell. But what the Euroleague has right now is a pure basketball site”, he said. “We have a very high-quality. And the NBA’s interest validates that we have something here: a great product”, Shengelia added.
“Euroleague is also doing a great job of maintaining the teams together and keeping the competition going. In this product, one of the main ingredients is the clubs and the players. Players make the competition healthy, players make the competition high-level, and this is how the EuroLeague functions”, the forward said to Eurohoops.
“I say that if the Euroleague were to also offer the players what the NBA Europe would offer, which is, you know, the pension funds at the end of the careers, the better traveling, the better conditions, better schedule… I would not see the financial side, I would not see many reasons for us to leave this competition, which already exists, and go to the other one”, he stated.
“The only threat that I see is if NBA Europe comes with better conditions for the players, and the Euroleague will have difficulty keeping this up. We already seen first hand that many Euroleague players are leaving Europe and going to Asia or different continents for better conditions”, Shengelia said about the reality of european basketball.
“But now, if they’re going to have this in Europe, in the end, many top players will move there potentially, and this will split up the competition and it’s what makes the competition unhealthy”, he told Eurohoops.
“Although I have to state the fact that in the last couple of years, the financial side in the Euroleague for the players is going high, the conditions are also getting better. We’re going to continue working together and making this league healthier and more competitive”, the Barcelona player added.
“I believe the margin is there. I believe if will is there, we can meet the needs and you know, my only hope is this is going to be a healthy relationship between clubs, Euroleague and the players for many years”, he concluded.