By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Vucevic believes cooperation between the NBA and EuroLeague would offer the best outcome for European basketball, warning that competing leagues could weaken the overall product.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the Orlando Magic center argued that keeping Europe’s strongest clubs together should be a priority. A longtime Crvena Zvezda supporter, he also made the case for Belgrade’s inclusion in the NBA’s European plans.
“I’m a big Crvena Zvezda fan, so I watch a lot of EuroLeague,” Vucevic said. “I hope they can find a way to come together. With two leagues, we’ll lose some quality because we won’t have the best teams together.”
Vucevic sees value in combining the strengths of both organizations but questions whether there are enough players to sustain two elite competitions.
“The NBA can contribute something and the EuroLeague can contribute something. If they come together, it could be really good for Europe,” he said. “I don’t know whether they could maintain that quality, because it’s difficult to find so many players for so many leagues. Two separate leagues wouldn’t be good for anyone.”
The NBA is targeting an October 2027 launch for its European competition. Belgrade is absent from its initial list of target cities, something Vucevic believes overlooks the importance of established basketball communities.
“I understand the NBA. They look at it purely from a business perspective and how they can make the most money in big cities,” he explained. “But I think Europe is a little different. Some of the big cities don’t care as much about basketball.”
He pointed to football’s dominance in Paris and London before making the case for the Serbian capital.
“A city like Belgrade, with two really good teams and two great fan bases, should have a team,” Vucevic said. “I hope both teams are involved, especially if the NBA and EuroLeague come together. Crvena Zvezda and Partizan have some of the best fans. Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, teams like that — you have to have them. That’s also what makes the EuroLeague special.”
His Orlando teammate Franz Wagner also sees promise in NBA Europe, provided it builds on the continent’s existing basketball culture. The German forward began his career at ALBA Berlin, which has publicly expressed interest in joining the project.
“The NBA could add something really good to Europe. Obviously, we have a great basketball and fan culture there,” Wagner said. “Hopefully there’s a way to add something new while keeping that tradition.”
Tristan da Silva, meanwhile, reserved judgment on how the competition would take shape.
“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “I think the basketball world and European basketball are really excited about a new league and the new teams coming in. It’s going to change the landscape a little.”
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