Adam SilverNBA commissioner, has confirmed that the plans to develop a men’s basketball competition continue to develop in Europaby the hand of FIBAand has updated the current status of the project in a press appearance after the celebration of the NBA GOVERNMENT BOARD.
“We have talked about opportunities in Europe. Mark Tatumthe deputy commissioner, who is here, led those conversations. He and I spent time in Europa This summer talking with several interlocutors, including existing clubs that would like to be part of the League, media companies, other agents involved, our Federation, FIBA. I would say there is still a huge enthusiasm around that opportunity, ”he said Silver.
The commissioner, who presented with Andreas ZagklisGeneral Secretary of FIBA, the idea of the joint project last March highlighting the importance of sports meritocracy and an access road to competition from the basketball Champions League and the National Leagueshe has stressed that “the state of basketball in Europe seems fantastic to me. They have their own traditions, which of course we want to maintain, but we think there is the possibility of taking a style league NBA to the continent and bring the game to another level. ”
In addition to highlighting Tony’s positive words Parkerowner of Asvelin a recent interview, pointing out that “it is not about whether the NBA It will come to Europe, it’s when, “Silver offered an update:” Since the last time we talked, we hired JP Morgan to work with us in the analysis and also to another smaller bank called Rainwhich has done a lot of work for the league historically and has represented several clubs in transactions. So they are working thoroughly in the model, trying to better understand the investment opportunity for external agents. ”
“I think that now our basketball people are very involved in how the competition will work. Our lawyers are reflecting intensely on how we can move a system that in American sport is well known, based on salary stops and income distribution with the players, and how to apply it in a European framework. Nothing is easy here. There are reasons why this has not been done before. extraordinary, ”said the commissioner of the NBA.
Silver He wanted to clarify that the process of possible franchise extension in the NBA And the process of a new competition in Europe, by the hand of FIBAthey are independent: “There are independent people studying a possible domestic expansion and others analyzing opportunities in Europe, and I see it as completely independent opportunities. Although what we can do in Europa and in USA They are totally separated, I think that adding equipment to an existing league, where you have – at least nationally – fixed income, is very different to consider an opportunity in Europawhere it is a blank sheet. Although there is already a structure there, in a way it is a virgin terrain in terms of the magnitude of the opportunity. “
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The commissioner of the NBAafter being asked, he also addressed the possible role of the Euroleagueto which FIBA sat down at the negotiating table in search of the general interest and despite the subsequent publication of his competition calendar by overlapping once again with the set of the fiba windows on the way to the 2027 World Cup. “The conversations with the Euroleague They are still underway, so there is still room to deepen the relationship with them and find formulas to integrate our operation in some way. ”
Football -related teams?
Finally, he wanted to address the possible stage of participating teams following a question about whether they would be new teams, football -related teams …: “I would not say that our preference is necessarily linked to those well -known European football clubs. I think that is a model, in which especially some of those incredible football brands of Europa They have some of the greatest followers of the world behind their clubs, but also, as you know, they have basketball traditions. They may not be so known to their basketball teams, but it is not as if we take a football club and say: “Now create one of basketball.” They already have basketball equipment, as you know, in some cases high level teams. I think we are addressing market market. In certain markets, some of those football clubs have taken a step forward; They have basketball structures. In some cases they have teams that already play in other leagues and have said: “We would be very interested in associating with you.” And in other markets there is no the same basketball tradition that we see in certain European countries. Europe is a very diverse place: from one country to another things can vary greatly, interest in basketball can vary greatly. There are European countries with well -known capitals for the American public that seem great opportunities, but that do not have a great basketball tradition. In those markets it probably makes more sense to start from scratch and create new clubs. ”
Silver made a final point: “Mark Tatum It is the one who leads this initiative. It is a hybrid model. I think we are open to different approaches, recognizing that Europa It is a huge place. Sports cultures and traditions can vary greatly, particularly in basketball, market in market, country in country. So part of the work we are doing now consists of really deepening and saying: Okay, perhaps this is the opportunity in this country, where there is an existing soccer club very interested, but in this other country we must start from scratch. ”
