Scariolo & Bueno: EuroLeague Shift & Madrid’s NBA Europe Focus

Sergio Scariolocoach of Real Madrid, indicated that with the recent appointment of the Spanish Chus Bueno as the new general director of the Euroleague replacing Lithuanian Paulius Motiejunasit is expected “a more active dialogue” that can lead to “a meeting point”.

The Italian coach’s statements came before the white team traveled to Athens to face Panathinaikos on the twenty-sixth day of the Euroleague and four days after those responsible for the European competition unanimously decided on the replacement in the competition offices.

Along with Asvel Villeurbanne and Fenerbahce, Real Madrid has not yet made an official statement on whether it will renew its Euroleague license for the coming years or, on the contrary, it will begin its march to go hand in hand with the NBA and FIBA in the new NBA Europe competition, which is scheduled to begin in October 2027.

Despite the rumor mill, Scariolo reiterated that “regardless of the entry” of Chus Bueno, with whom he maintains a great friendship, the white club expects “a more active dialogue” and is willing to seek “a meeting point and not a confrontation,” in a task that he described as “tough.”

“Personally, I am a little conditioned by the personal friendship that unites me with Chus. I have great consideration and esteem for him. As a professional and as a person I know that he is the right guy at the right time. Also, let’s not fool ourselves, the task is big and hard,” he said.

Likewise, Scariolo believed that Motiejunas was not “part of the problem,” but he did acknowledge that a new approach could help clarify the current picture: “Sometimes a different approach by a different person, who has deeper and better personal relationships with the different parties, can help us. Hopefully, let’s hope so.”

On January 15, when asked whether or not Real Madrid would land in the NBA Europe, the Italian stressed that the idea of the white project is “medium and long term”, while at the same time he stressed “short-termism” and “resultism” as allies of “bad decisions”.

“Ideally, I think there can still be room to join forces and not just put them in conflict. For my part I can only say that I have actually been here for many years and I have fun at the competition level, I have fun in this Euroleague, but I have also spent three fantastic years in the NBA, where I have greatly appreciated their way of seeing things. So I think that everything that is adding or adding options and not subtracting, I think is good for basketball,” said Scariolo in the preview of the European classic against the Barça.

Bueno’s arrival to the Euroleague opens a new stage in the negotiations between the clubs that compete in the top European club competition and the American league (NBA). So far, only Real Madrid, Fenerbahce and Asvel Villeurbanne have not confirmed the renewal of their license in the competition, leaving their participation from next season up in the air.

The Euroleague currently has thirteen ‘owner’ clubs, whose presence is assured in the competition: Barça, Baskonia, Real Madrid, Panathinaikos, Maccabi, Zalgiris, Efes, Olimpia Milan, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Asvel Villeurbanne, Bayern Munich and CSKA Moscow (sanctioned due to war and out of the competition since 2022).

They are joined by two teams, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Monaco, who entered through the Euro Cup, the second continental level competition, and another six that entered via the ‘wild card’ or invitation, valid for periods of one, three or five years: Virtus Bologna, Partizan, Estrella Roja, Valencia Basket, Dubai Basketball and Paris Basketball.