NBA Exploring Starting New Tournament Or League In Europe

[LuDux1]

I haven't heard of EL London project

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1738890/paulius-motiejunas-responds-to-report-euroleague/

What exactly is "this NBA idea"?

Creating Euroleague rival, split teams between EL and NBA Europe or just kill off EL, fill other half of teams in markets that aren't known to have Basketball fanbase, simply because they chase big market money, basically killing some legendary teams like Maccabi, Žalgiris, Baskonia, VIRTUS chances at competing at highest European competition, simply because their Markets arent at NBA standard, and introducing NBA commercialism, 3 minute timeouts into European Basketball. That to me sounds horrible.

Are you Dan Brown or Motiejunas?

[JM00n69]

Silver really that broke? I thought the gambling gave a new boost for the league. I don't care or watch euroball as a european and I don't see how NBA could benefit merging some parts of the league into europe unless it's a mid season, NBA Cup winner vs Euroleague champs game but that's just an exhibition game really. Anything resembling a tournament runs into logistics problems and the fact that euroball is played under FIBA rules, And unless NBA brings their refs the game is called much different. It's just basketball without the added fluff that surrounds NBA which in turn brings in the big money.

[peja_the_legend]

They definitely trying to poach Real, Barca and Bayern in particular. These are global giants in sports. Timing is probably not coincidence, because as was discussed, Real Madrids Euroelague's license was about to expire. I never followed on that, but thats basically why NBA acted now. If they get Real, Barca, Bayern and most likely CSKA, that would be huge hit for Euroleague and they would probably wouldn't recover from that, as you said, they would just become regional league, bigger VTB... But thats what I fear, more split in Euro ball, FIBA already created that garbage FIBA Champions league that just poached teams from Euroleague secondary tournament, Eurocup. At least FIBA CL is secondary league, it did not steal any major teams, but it still sucks how some of the better teams in whole Europe are split among tournament that don't cooperate and are actively hostile towards one another.

To me, as Euro fan, there are only too ''good'' options here. Either NBA Europe fails or does not happen, or is huge success that just kills off Euroleague and just replaces Euroleague, hopefully inviting historic lesser markets liek kaunas, Tel Aviv to NBA Europe too... If Both NBA EUrope and Euroleague just happen and some teams play in one, others in other, as fan, it would simply suck. Split like that sucks.

Personally, I am far bigger Euroleague fan, so I myself root for NBA Europe to just fail, but thats my personal stance that just based on fandom and fact I am not a fan of NBA product that much.

Why do you blame FIBA when it was Euroleague who decided that sports merit have no place in European basketball?Basketball was the first sport in Europe to replace the traditional format of European championships with a closed league.I won't shed a tear for Euroleague,they get a taste of their own medicine now.They ruined European basketball with their A licences crap.And hey they have Dubai and Abu Dhabi franchises to replace Real or Barce in case they leave,so no harm done.

[TFJava]

Invite Euro teams to the In Season Tournament, now THAT would be something that brings excitement. I am sure Euroleague teams wouldn't mind that prize pool, and incentivize them even more by offering them money to participate.

What is the incentive for the NBA to do this though? Unless they own these invited teams there's just no point in "sharing the wealth" so to speak. It will make for an interesting development at a competitive standpoint but there is no plus side for the league (unless they have a "buy-in" of sort to join those tourneys. LOL)

One word - MONEY!

[LuDux1]

Invite Euro teams to the In Season Tournament, now THAT would be something that brings excitement. I am sure Euroleague teams wouldn't mind that prize pool, and incentivize them even more by offering them money to participate.

What is the incentive for the NBA to do this though? Unless they own these invited teams there's just no point in "sharing the wealth" so to speak. It will make for an interesting development at a competitive standpoint but there is no plus side for the league (unless they have a "buy-in" of sort to join those tourneys. LOL)

One word - MONEY!

Maybe in long term. Right now NBA can earn more from fining players for cursing in French

[Mirotic12]

Silver really that broke? I thought the gambling gave a new boost for the league. I don't care or watch euroball as a european and I don't see how NBA could benefit merging some parts of the league into europe unless it's a mid season, NBA Cup winner vs Euroleague champs game but that's just an exhibition game really. Anything resembling a tournament runs into logistics problems and the fact that euroball is played under FIBA rules, And unless NBA brings their refs the game is called much different. It's just basketball without the added fluff that surrounds NBA which in turn brings in the big money.

It's a separate league. Nothing to do with NBA teams.

[-Luke-]

Just read some quotes from Bayern manager Marko Pesic (Svetislav's son) in German media. Doesn't sound like Bayern would join the new NBA league and leave Euro League.

Some quotes, translated with deepl:

“I'm sure that the EuroLeague will continue to function and grow,” said the managing director of German basketball champions Bayern Munich ahead of the final game against Fenerbahce Istanbul (77:89) on MagentaSport. “I believe in the EuroLeague and will always support it.”

I think one factor is that the biggest European football/soccer clubs wanted to found a Super League a few years ago, which they had to withdraw after huge fan protests. It was a big PR disaster for the clubs involved. You could argue of course that the EuroLeague already is a Super League. At some big clubs (Real, Barca, Bayern, Panathinaikos, Red Star etc.) the Ultras attend basketball matches as well as football matches and the clubs are perhaps afraid of another PR disaster.

[maxpower8888]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/276913/NBA-Exploring-Starting-New-Tournament-Or-League-In-Europe

Europe is the next frontier...

i thought it was space

No no, space is the final frontier. In terms of frontiers it goes:

Roman frontier > Wild West > getting LeBron fans to admit MJ's the GOAT > NBA in Europe > and then space

[Mirotic12]

Why do you blame FIBA when it was Euroleague who decided that sports merit have no place in European basketball?Basketball was the first sport in Europe to replace the traditional format of European championships with a closed league.I won't shed a tear for Euroleague,they get a taste of their own medicine now.They ruined European basketball with their A licences crap.And hey they have Dubai and Abu Dhabi franchises to replace Real or Barce in case they leave,so no harm done.

FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non European teams (Africa and Asia) in the 1970s. FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non champion teams in 1991. By 1996, FIBA already had some designated EuroLeague places for certain teams from certain leagues.

[peja_the_legend]

Why do you blame FIBA when it was Euroleague who decided that sports merit have no place in European basketball?Basketball was the first sport in Europe to replace the traditional format of European championships with a closed league.I won't shed a tear for Euroleague,they get a taste of their own medicine now.They ruined European basketball with their A licences crap.And hey they have Dubai and Abu Dhabi franchises to replace Real or Barce in case they leave,so no harm done.

FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non European teams (Africa and Asia) in the 1970s. FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non champion teams in 1991. By 1996, FIBA already had some designated EuroLeague places for certain teams from certain leagues.

Certain leagues yes,certain teams,no man this never happened.In fact when Euroleague started in 2000 there were no A licences or 10 year long contracts either.It was just that the teams themselves run the competition instead of FIBA.The dreaded A licences came a bit later sometime in mid 2000s.

[peja_the_legend]

Just read some quotes from Bayern manager Marko Pesic (Svetislav's son) in German media. Doesn't sound like Bayern would join the new NBA league and leave Euro League.

Some quotes, translated with deepl:

“I'm sure that the EuroLeague will continue to function and grow,” said the managing director of German basketball champions Bayern Munich ahead of the final game against Fenerbahce Istanbul (77:89) on MagentaSport. “I believe in the EuroLeague and will always support it.”

I think one factor is that the biggest European football/soccer clubs wanted to found a Super League a few years ago, which they had to withdraw after huge fan protests. It was a big PR disaster for the clubs involved. You could argue of course that the EuroLeague already is a Super League. At some big clubs (Real, Barca, Bayern, Panathinaikos, Red Star etc.) the Ultras attend basketball matches as well as football matches and the clubs are perhaps afraid of another PR disaster.

I mean Bayern was handed an undeserved A licence some 2-3 years after it was created as a basketball club,just because of its household name i guess,despite small modest Bamberg being a much better team at that time.Of course their GM will say that they support Euroleague.

And the Superleague example from european football just doesn't work.Fans were protesting because they didn't want a closed league,Euroleague is a closed league already.

[LuDux1]

Why do you blame FIBA when it was Euroleague who decided that sports merit have no place in European basketball?Basketball was the first sport in Europe to replace the traditional format of European championships with a closed league.I won't shed a tear for Euroleague,they get a taste of their own medicine now.They ruined European basketball with their A licences crap.And hey they have Dubai and Abu Dhabi franchises to replace Real or Barce in case they leave,so no harm done.

FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non European teams (Africa and Asia) in the 1970s. FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non champion teams in 1991. By 1996, FIBA already had some designated EuroLeague places for certain teams from certain leagues.

Syrian and Lebanese teams played in inaugural season in 1958

[Mirotic12]

Why do you blame FIBA when it was Euroleague who decided that sports merit have no place in European basketball?Basketball was the first sport in Europe to replace the traditional format of European championships with a closed league.I won't shed a tear for Euroleague,they get a taste of their own medicine now.They ruined European basketball with their A licences crap.And hey they have Dubai and Abu Dhabi franchises to replace Real or Barce in case they leave,so no harm done.

FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non European teams (Africa and Asia) in the 1970s. FIBA started giving EuroLeague places to non champion teams in 1991. By 1996, FIBA already had some designated EuroLeague places for certain teams from certain leagues.

Certain leagues yes,certain teams,no man this never happened.In fact when Euroleague started in 2000 there were no A licences or 10 year long contracts either.It was just that the teams themselves run the competition instead of FIBA.The dreaded A licences came a bit later sometime in mid 2000s.

It was for certain teams. If you give 2nd and 3rd place to Spanish league, Greek League, etc., then that was a 90% that Barca, Real, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos were in the league.

Also, FIBA gives contracts to BCL clubs. For example, clubs like Malaga, AEK, etc., etc., etc., have 3 year contracts with BCL, and will play in it regardless of any league results.

When FIBA wanted control of the EuroLeague back in 2016, part of the deal offered included contracts for the 13 A license clubs.

There is zero difference between FIBA's philosophy and ECA's philosophy on how to run a European club league.

[Mirotic12]

Supposedly, the EuroLeague teams were informed they will have to pay a license fee to the NBA, and the EuroLeague teams don't want to do so. But nonetheless, supposedly, negotiating is under way.

So in other words, for this new NBA Europe League, if it is to actually happen, the NBA does want it to be a league with the EuroLeague teams in it. In a joint project, and not as some attempt at a rival league.

Which makes total sense. The idea that new "franchises" could compete with established EuroLeague fan bases in a rival league makes zero sense.

[Mirotic12]

The EuroLeague seems to be using a pretty strong negotiating tactic with the NBA and FIBA. The EuroLeague expanded by 2 teams and also increased the number of games in the season.

They added a team from the oil rich mideast, which the NBA supposedly didn't want them to do and was supposedly part of the conditions of the EuroLeague teams being in the NBA Europe League. Because supposedly as it is being speculated, the NBA wants to form its own league in the oil rich mideast countries and didn’t want the EuroLeague getting those teams and money first.

It also means that since the EuroLeague added more games to the season, that there can't be any more in season EuroLeague breaks for the FIBA windows.

[LuDux1]

"We, as EuroLeague, have the best product possible" + "pretty strong negotiating tactic" = "Let's talk

[LuDux1]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/280837/NBA-EuroLeague-Relations-Thaw-As-European-Basketball-League-Plans-Progress

The NBA and EuroLeague relationship has improved after tensions last year when EuroLeague rejected the NBA's partnership proposal. Former San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker, who owns French club ASVEL, has served as an intermediary between the organizations.

"It was really the first time that all three parties, including the clubs, had sat down together to talk about what the future of European basketball should look like," Tatum said. "So I'd say there was a really productive, good conversations there."

EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas expressed optimism about potential collaboration between the leagues.

"It is becoming more obvious that we have to work together," Motiejunas told The Athletic. "I believe it is the first meeting of many where we should find ways to grow basketball."

[durden_tyler]

As long as there is money to be made, the Euro teams will bow down to the NBA, which is a money-making machine so this is going to happen sooner than later.

[zimpy27]

Opening a conference in Europe should be possible with the way the NBA schedule has home and away games in runs.

Or you go the champions league approach

[durden_tyler]

Opening a conference in Europe should be possible with the way the NBA schedule has home and away games in runs.

Or you go the champions league approach

That's the end game i think, difficult but should be doable, but not happening immediately. Maybe in 15-20 years since quality of those teams is still lower than the NBA teams.

Create a tournament for these Euro teams with regular guest NBA teams during the NBA preseason timeline and that should be considered an early success already. Great for the NBA teams, who will be sending their preeason/training camp squads and test against the *best* in Europe and great exposure for the Euro teams.