NBA Europe, Tatum between offers, Euroleague and Doncic

The date circled on the calendar remains the same: October 2027. It is the moment in which the NBA will launch its new league in Europe, the one which is being set up in partnership with FIBA ​​and which “is taking the final steps” as NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum recalled in a conference call with the international media. Two things emerge from the almost 45′ chat: that the NBA is moving forward with its project, with the final offers of the parties interested in becoming the new franchises of this league to be presented by the month of June, and that the dialogue with the Euroleague remains open but that “if we do not find an agreement we are ready to move forward with our partners and our investors”.

the offers

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Tatum reiterates the June deadline several times. By the end of the month, anyone who wants to own a franchise in the new league must present a concrete offer to the NBA and FIBA, partners in this project, possibly in that range between 500 million and one billion dollars which has always been considered the entry threshold, depending on the market. “We are in a very advanced stage of discussions with various interested parties, with many clubs in Europe to be understood as existing basketball teams and new clubs – says the NBA number two -. The teams now have a clearer picture of the economic part of the projectparticipation bonuses, result bonuses, the income that will be shared and how. They are all clear that we will make an unprecedented investment in the history of European basketball, that the teams will receive the vast majority of the revenues, that we have a project based on sustainable growth in mind. After the deadline for these offers, we will begin the review processes and speak with our Board as FIBA ​​will. And we will continue to make progress towards the first tit-for-tat in October 2027.” The message for stakeholders is clear: it’s time to make a decision.

euroleague

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Tatum clarifies that it is fake news that the NBA will take most of the revenue, recalling that the proceeds from this new project will instead be reinvested in the clubs and the league itself. And then he returns to the state of affairs in the negotiations with the Euroleague, with the second meeting between the parties originally scheduled for the end of May postponed to mid-June. “The dialogue remains open with the idea of arriving at a constructive collaboration that is a benefit for the entire ecosystem of European basketball – explains Tatum -. We have repeated several times that we believe it is in the best interests of basketball in Europe that there is an identity of views here. Having said that, we are also realistic: if we cannot reach an agreement, we are ready to move forward anyway with our partners, our investors and FIBA. It would not be the ideal situation, but I think we have enough investors ready to commit to the growth of basketball in Europe. I reiterate, however, that what we believe is the only way to secure a place in the new league is to bid for a permanent franchise in our league. We are in discussion with several clubs and we are making progress on that front as well.”

doncic

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Responding to a question from Gazzetta dello Sportthe Deputy Commissioner also talks about Luka Doncic and his investment in Rome, with a view to the new league. “It’s wonderful to have someone like Luka, who played in the Euroleague and is interested in European basketball – he says -. He talked about it with us, he told us how much it was his dream to own a team in Europe and, in the future, potentially also in our league. It’s a project that he’s very passionate about, so he showed a very high level of interest and enthusiasm. Luka knows European basketball very well and I think he understands the need for what we want to do.”