The North American Professional Basketball League N.B.A continues to pursue the plan of its own European league. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made an offer to Europe’s top league, the Euroleague, for the first time and promoted a possible merger.
At a meeting of the Board of Governorsthe governing body of the NBA, on Wednesday also discussed the possible expansion of the US professional league into Europe. The plans announced by the NBA last year to establish its own European league are causing unrest in European basketball. Announcements from NBA headquarters have been followed closely since then, including the statement by NBA commissioner Adam Silver after the board meeting.
NBA boss Silver: “Merger with Euroleague the best”
The most powerful man in the NBA stated the goal of seeking a merger with the Euroleague in his European project: This would be “the best result”says Silver, “for the benefit of European basketball, to promote the sport throughout Europe”.
This marks a change in direction in the simulation games about the new European League, which have at least officially become known, in which the NBA has so far worked primarily with the international basketball association FIBA. The year 2027 was mentioned as a possible start date for the new European club competition.
The Euroleague, which houses the top clubs in European basketball under its umbrella, had so far been largely left out of the negotiations. The privately organized Euroleague has been in dispute with the European association FIBA for years.
NBA is drawn to Europe’s metropolises – including Berlin
The NBA’s expansion plans pose a threat, especially to Europe’s elite league. Alba Berlin, for example, demonstratively turned its back on the Euroleague last summer, the Berliners joined the FIBA Champions League competition and positioned themselves as a future location for the NBA Europe in position.
The NBA has chosen metropolises such as Berlin, but also Rome, Paris, London and Manchester as locations for new European branches. According to a report by “L’Equipe” should Qatar Sports Investmentsmajority owner at Paris Saint Germainwith the NBA preparing a bid for a PSG basketball franchise.
Traditional clubs from the Euroleague, such as those from Belgrade or Lithuania, are, on the other hand, considered less attractive from an economic perspective. NBA boss Silver has now taken a big step towards the Euroleague; in his statement he also addressed Euroleague managing director Chus Bueno, one of them “long-time colleagues in the NBA”. The Spaniard worked in NBA management for more than ten years and was responsible for international business.
Euroleague also relies on cooperation
Bueno only took up the top position at the Euroleague umbrella organization in January, replacing Paulius Motiejunas at the top of the Euroleague. Motiejunas, former manager at the Lithuanian model club Zalgiris Kaunas, had sharply criticized the NBA’s European plans. Communication, which was already strained by the dispute between the associations, had recently apparently come to a complete standstill. This is also said to have contributed to Motiejunas’ replacement.
In any case, there were more cooperative tones to be heard from his successor Bueno. “If the NBA really wants to bring five billion euros into the system, then that’s good news for European basketball”said the Euroleague CEO on “Mundo Deportivo”, referring to the rumored amount that the NBA would like to generate with the future European franchises. “Then we should sit down at the table with the NBA and think about how we can best use this potential together.”
The NBA also recognized that it would be better to implement the project together with the Euroleague, said Bueno and warned against going it alone: “Two competitions at the highest level would further divide the market”said the Spaniard, referring to the multitude of European competitions. “That wouldn’t help anyone and would shrink revenues for everyone. The best thing would be a joint solution, even if both sides would then have to make concessions.”
