Paulius Motiejunas (CEO of the Euroleague): “What Paris is showing is impressive, a great success. But it’s another thing to string together performances over several seasons, in the Euroleague. They have a good staff, coach, GM… All the pieces of the puzzle must fit. We’ll see if this continues. With their arena and Bercy also close by, it’s a market we want to invest in, like London and Berlin. Only time will tell if they are ready. What if they lost in the Eurocup? Many teams are candidates for an invitation – the two Belgrade, Virtus Bologna, Valencia… What is certain is that they are knocking on the door.
“It is sometimes perhaps better to win at the lower level, rather than not to flourish at the top”
As for Bourg, if they win, they will have to follow the regulations to be able to qualify for the Euroleague. I have to salute François Lamy (formerly of Zalgiris Kaunas, where Motiejunas was general manager), who does a very good job there as a consultant. The club has an excellent ambassador in the person of Zaccharie Risacher, who will open the doors to the NBA, and brings together many fans. But I don’t see them as a possible long-term member of the Euroleague.
This won’t be a popular opinion, but I think that not everyone in the Eurocup should necessarily aim to move up to the Euroleague. I respect Gran Canaria, which declined last year. Sometimes it is perhaps better to play for the win at the lower level, rather than failing to flourish at the top or risking sporting collapse in the middle of the season while endangering the future of the club. I find stability preferable. But once again, congratulations to Bourg, who deserves everything that happens to him. »
