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The NBA’s attempt to build a league in Europe is nothing new. But the news is that so far the goal cannot be achieved. And the EuroLeague, to shield its own product and secure its own future, has new 10-year contracts on the table. Spyros Cavalieratos writes
On the one hand, Ergin Ataman’s statements about Panathinaikos and the NBA, on the other hand, the publication in Serbia about the creation of a new league. All this created many questions and the SPORT24 will attempt to provide answers to the questions raised.
It is true, then, that the NBA has long had in its plans the creation of a league in Europe, with the cooperation of FIBA. This is nothing new, but the news is that so far there is no development. Whatever effort has been made, it has no effect.
What exactly is the NBA trying to do? Not to expand its own league into Europe as some may have mistakenly understood, nor to take any of the existing teams – at least the historic clubs with large fan bases – to put them in NBA Europe.
What they want to do is, as they did in Africa, create something from scratch together with FIBA. To build a commercial group from the big cities of Europe, which will be able to invest a huge amount. For example to create something in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rome and so on.
The league of 8 teams
In total it should be a league of 8 teams that is not related to the domestic leagues and historical clubs. Something like Dubai BC for example and not Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, Real, Barcelona, Partizan, Red Star.
The search is mainly for people with big wallets (mostly Arabs) who would like to invest several million dollars. At the beginning the discussion started at 500 million, now it is at 200 million dollars, etc. These are huge sums for European basketball, which obviously no one will give, especially since in Europe tradition still dominates.
Nevertheless, the effort from the NBA continues, even if FIBA no longer seems to be as active in this direction. We would say the opposite, even if you won’t hear anyone officially expressing it from the World Federation side. Because FIBA needs the NBA for the Olympic Games, World Championships and Eurobasket. On the other hand, of course, it is called upon to maintain balance on the world map, and a one-sided expansion of the NBA in Europe might also cause a monopoly.
The new 10-year EuroLeague contracts until 2036
What is EuroLeague doing watching NBA plans? It is trying to grow its own product, expand across Europe and increase revenue. Paris has already entered the plan for good and the presence of Paris shows the way.
But the most important thing is that the traditional powers get stronger, that they are happy and that they stay committed to the EuroLeague. Because the NBA can in the future turn to the traditional forces, seeing that nothing new can be created.
What is the next step? The signing of the 10-year contracts with the major powers of the EuroLeague. Not only with the current shareholders who are 13 and have an agreement until 2026. There will be more guaranteed 10-year contracts (ie until 2036) with huge clauses for everyone.
Most teams have already agreed to the extension, but discussions with all of them have not been completed. Combined with the expansion, the increase of the teams to 20 and the prospect of the league growing even more, the product can become even more attractive so that the bra de fer between EuroLeague and NBA within the Old Continent has a clear winner.
At present Europe is defeating America on its own Continent, but this undeclared war is not yet over.
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