By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Italian icon Danilo Gallinari has thrown his full weight behind the planned new top-tier league in Europe backed by the NBA and FIBA, calling a partnership between the NBA and Euroleague Basketball the essential bridge to fixing the business model across the Old Continent.
While executives have continuously discussed the project, fans and clubs are still waiting for official confirmation regarding participating teams and a firm launch date.
Talking to Italy’s Sky Sport on Thursday, the former player highlighted the unique enthusiasm shared by peers who have played on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The goal for both parties is certainly to find a balance between the basketball side and the entertainment side,” he mentioned while detailing his view on the crossover initiative, widely labeled as NBA Europe.
“I hope it can start in the 2027–28 season and that an agreement can be reached between the Euroleague and the NBA. That’s crucial. Let’s hope they manage to do it,” he continued. “As a former player who has experienced both worlds, as well as other former players with whom I constantly interact, there’s the same kind of excitement and expectation about something that could finally become a reality.”
Gallinari recently pointed out that while European arenas feature unmatched passion, the current ecosystem is imbalanced, relying too heavily on sport over revenue. In his eyes, NBA expertise can repair this financial gap.
Now retired from the court, he is looking to stay involved and secure an executive role in the project, aiming to help Italian and other franchises.
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