The CEO of the EuroLeague has no worries among the NBA’s programs in Europe
LONDON – While the EuroLeague is not happy with the NBA’s plans to create a new competition on the continent, it is not concerned either.
“We’ve only heard the plan or the fireworks of how amazing it’s going to be, how much potential there is,” EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas said of the proposed NBA league. “But having a theory is one thing — and making it work is two.”
Motiejunas added: “We have been here for 26 years. We know how Europe works.”
With clubs like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the EuroLeague is considered the best men’s competition outside of the NBA. The 20-team league includes 13 ineligible “shareholder” clubs. Others qualify through their home leagues or by invitational.
The NBA, in collaboration with FIBA, is looking at a model of 16 teams with 12 permanent members, aiming to start in October 2027. It has identified Athens, Istanbul, Paris, Lyon, Munich, Berlin, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, London and Manchester as potential participating cities.
Attention is currently on the three clubs with EuroLeague shares that have yet to renew their 10-year licenses — Real Madrid, Fenerbahce in Istanbul and Tony Parker’s ASVEL near Lyon. Parker showed his support for the NBA.
Barcelona have recently announced that they will extend it for another 10 years after this season.
“It’s a really big deal. It’s an important sign, and we’re glad they’re committed,” Motiejunas said of Barcelona, who did not comment publicly.
Motiejunas, in an interview with the Associated Press, said he hopes that all 13 clubs will stay.
“The NBA has been announcing and announcing things for a year, but still nothing can be held,” said Motiejunas. “As entrepreneurs, these team owners, they started to see that it was a little broken record saying ‘we’ll announce later.’ … The start of ’27 is just around the corner.”
EuroLeague clubs reportedly have an exit clause of 10 million euros ($11.6 million), but Motiejunas would only say that “with consequences and legal teams” contracts can be broken. There is no exit from the NBA, he added.
The EuroLeague says it is still open to some kind of relationship with the NBA. But for now, it has sent a letter to the NBA warning of legal action if negotiations with EuroLeague shareholders continue.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver made the threat Thursday in Berlin before the Orlando Magic’s 118-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA’s regular season opener in Germany.
He also canceled the EuroLeague in general.
“If I thought the ceiling was the existing EuroLeague and the interest of their fans,” said Silver, “we wouldn’t have spent the time and attention we have on this project.”
Media reports indicate that the NBA is seeking at least $500 million. Silver noted that any investors will have to be patient because “it’s going to be a while, I think, before it’s a viable commercial enterprise.” He added that it would be “many decades in the making.”
Silver warned that the “possibility” of starting a new league is “a huge undertaking” and described talks with Real Madrid and other Spanish clubs as “more in the fact-finding phase.”
The situation in European basketball is similar to soccer in that the domestic leagues eat the continental championships. The EuroLeague is similar to the UEFA Champions League. Basketball has many other international leagues, but they are less popular than their soccer counterparts, so fans get confused. FIBA, for example, has its own Basketball Champions League, which can be a supplier of the NBA league.
Silver sees potential because basketball is the number 2 sport in Europe after soccer.
“Instead of thinking like we’re taking a share [soccer]I look at the commercial side of basketball as it currently exists in Europe, and it probably represents about 1 percent of the commercial sports market,” he said.
Many European basketball teams, including some in the EuroLeague, have struggled financially. This system often relies on wealthy owners to pay the club’s debts each year. The EuroLeague has implemented spending restrictions to promote financial sustainability.
With increased revenue, the EuroLeague last season took its “final four” championship outside of Europe — in Abu Dhabi — for the first time. It brought a taste of chaos to Euro hoops, too, as Panathinaikos majority owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos was handed a five-game ban for his “threatening actions” against referees.
The EuroLeague has also awarded a multi-year license to the newly formed Dubai club and recently expanded its partnership with global sports advertising agency IMG.
“We are focused on ourselves,” said Motiejunas. “We will be able to adapt, there is no question about it, and we will continue to fight.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
