As someone who firmly believes there’s no such thing as too much basketball, I embrace the sport wherever and whenever it’s played.
Domestically, the NBA, WNBA, G League and men’s and women’s college basketball get most of my attention, but I also follow the EuroLeague (Alba Berlin is my favored club) and the Basketball Africa League (I cheer for the Rivers Hoopers out of Nigeria).
So, when the NBA and FIBA held a joint news conference late last month about the plan for a new pro hoops league in Europe, it quickly got my attention.
“The European basketball community is proud of its seven-decade history of international club competitions and the elite talent it develops,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. “Yet, given the sport’s popularity and the success of national team competitions, there is untapped potential in European club basketball. A new league in Europe would combine the NBA’s business acumen with the international expertise of FIBA to attract new basketball fans and investors alike, maximize club benefits, and establish synergies for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Added NBA commissioner Adam Silver, “The NBA and FIBA are uniquely positioned to build on the rich tradition of European basketball. We look forward to collaborating with FIBA to explore the creation of a new league for fans across the continent.”
Nothing is set in stone, of course, and plans sometimes never get beyond the drawing board. But the fact that Silver and Zagklis have gone public with their attentions means they’re quite serious.
According to an NBA news release, potential investors and teams were contacted more than a year ago to gauge the feasibility of the NBA Europe League (or whatever it might be called).
The new organization would be “ … integrated into the current European basketball landscape, with teams also participating in their respective national leagues. In addition to permanent teams, the league would offer clubs a merit-based pathway to qualification through the European basketball ecosystem.”
BasketNews reports that Real Madrid is the top target among EuroLeague franchises, while England wants to join the party with a new club based in Manchester.
I alluded to being a supporter of Alba Berlin, and it appears they’ll be locked in to EuroLeague. BasketNews hinted that the proposed league covets a Berlin club, but would likely introduce a fresh one.
“It’s preliminary, maybe 12 permanent spots and four that would be in a position to play on yearly basis, but that’s subject to change,” Silver said during the presser – without ever mentioning EuroLeague. “We have ongoing discussion with existing clubs, some of them are huge global brands and we recognize that there’s a tremendous depth of interest.”
EuroLeague’s 13 shareholders are meeting on Monday in Barcelona to discuss the league’s future and how an NBA-sponsored competitor might impact it. Currently it features 18 clubs with an eye on expanding to 20 as early as next season.
As you might expect, EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejūnas thinks Europe is best represented by his operation.
“We have a strong league. We have a great plan. We have a vision as to where we want to go and what we want to do,” Motiejūnas said to Spanish broadcaster Movistar+. “Of course, we don’t need another league. We don’t need a savior. We keep saying that we have the best league in Europe. I think we have the best fanbase on which the league is built. We have great franchises like Real Madrid. We have new names like Paris coming in as a new market. Clearly, we feel strong.”
In a perfect world, I’d love to see EuroLeague and the new venture come to some sort of arrangement where they can peacefully coexist. As exciting as it is to see the NBA expand its footprint further, EuroLeague’s roots date back to 1957 and as Motiejūnas says, it’s already strong.
But a perfect world this most certainly is not. Chances are there will be some major upheaval in European hoops if Silver and Zagklis partner up. take on the old guard and filch some of its biggest names.
Thus, I find myself hoping EuroLeague can hold the line while, at the same time, feeling excited about more big-time professional roundball.
Stay tuned …