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Almost everything could change in European basketball. The NBA wants to come to Europe and found its own league. Even before the plans are official, it comes to Zoff, in which FC Bayern takes a clear side.
Does it actually occur for a long time unimaginable revolution in European basketball? There is actually a lot to say that the NBA would expand to Europe in the coming years and found a new league that NBA Europe could establish.
The rumors about these plans have been in the basketball scene for a long time, but almost nobody really believed in it – until now.
A real fight could break out in European basketball
Because as serious the NBA means, Commissioner Adam Silver officially explained at a press conference at the end of March. “We believe that it is now time to reach the next level,” the American announced there.
The league would currently examine the form in which a possible league could be useful. For this, the NBA also cooperates with the Fiba World Basketball Association. The “business sense of the NBA” could be reconciled with the “international specialist knowledge of the FIBA” and appealing so many new fans but also investors, Fiba General Secretary Andreas Zagklis was therefore pleased.
Femerling sure: NBA cannot simply “invent new clubs”
The German basketball legend Patrick Femerling sees it very differently. In conversation with Sport1 , he was skeptical about the fans: “In Europe there is a different mentality of fans and a different feeling for sport than in the USA. Of course there are also traditional clubs in the NBA. But in Europe it is another story.”
There are projects such as Paris Basketball, an association that was only founded in 2017 and is already playing in the Euroleague, but “I can’t imagine that the NBA can simply invent new clubs,” says the German record national player.
Femerling still believes in the attack of the NBA on Europe: “That the NBA is expanding to Europe is probably inevitable. The only question is: when and how will this happen? There are already a lot of leagues and games, which is why it is not easy to implement something like this.”
“You need clubs, you need locations,” emphasizes Femerling. Where the teams that it would need for a new league should come from, he asked himself.
That could be the plans of the NBA Europe
But this is exactly what the NBA already has. According to several reports by The Athletic, the league should consist of twelve permanent participants and four changing members. Target start: 2026.
Possible clubs are also brought into play. There should be a mixture of complete start -ups, football clubs, which found basketball departments, and overwhelming from the Euroleague. The entire project is also to be financed with the help of external investors. In this way, the participants should be able to earn up to 500 million euros.
Silver should have negotiated in the background for several months. Bounded with Qatar Sports Investments (owner of PSG) and the sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Manchester City) probably two extremely potent donors who also want to launch teams in the NBA European in the respective cities.
Real Madrid is said to be very interested in a change from the Euroleague. It can also be heard that FC Barcelona would also follow its arch -rival when I change. Asvel Villeurbanne from France, whose owner is the former NBA star Tony Parker, is also considered a candidate.
The NBA is also very interested in having teams in the large and financially strong cities in Europe. In addition to London, Berlin and Munich are also mentioned again and again. It is unclear whether the NBA wants to found new franchise or Alba Berlin and FC Bayern in the new league.
NBA Europe? “Find the Euroleague exciting enough”
Although Munich is often mentioned in the reports, FC Bayern leave the plans of a possible NBA Europe completely cold. Months ago , managing director Marko Pesic said: “Nobody spoke to us and I don’t see that either. Otherwise they would have been here for a long time.”
In the meantime, there were obviously new movements in the cause, but the views have not changed in Bayern according to Sport1 information. From the environment of the association it can be clearly heard that one does not believe that an NBA Europe really prevails. There is also no talk of a contact between the club and league.
Accordingly, Bayern star Jo Voigtman also became clear in Sport1 interview: “I really haven’t dealt with it yet. I heard the rumors, but overall it is really far away from me. I think the EuroLeague is exciting enough.”
“The Euroleague is great and fun, I don’t deal with everything else,” said his teammate Andreas Obst: “Sure, the NBA is a big name and a large brand, but the Euroleague has also shown in recent years what quality it has.”
Jo Voigtmann wanted to exclude that he would never play in a possible NBA European Europe, but then at least not with a wink. “I have two more years here. If Bavaria plays in the NBA Europe, I will play in the NBA Europe, if not,” he said with a smile.
Bavaria is clearly committed to the Euroleague
What becomes clear from many conversations with players and those responsible for FC Bayern: Despite a possible NBA Europe, the club is fully behind the current top competition, the Euroleague.
This was also evident at a meeting of the 13-eurolaGue-shameolder, i.e. the clubs that are contractually bound to the league for several years. There, like numerous other clubs, Bayern clearly committed themselves to the previous competition.
The Euroleague tip had invited representatives of all clubs and asked them about their loyalty about the previous competition. A few days after the meeting, Pesic once again clearly commented on Magentasport : “I believe in the Euroleague and will always support them.”
He was certain that the league will continue to work and grow in the future, emphasized the Bayern boss and put a fine top against the NBA with its 82-game mink calendar: “The Euroleague is the best basketball league in the world from the first to last matchday when it comes to the quality of the basketball.”
Euroleague boss: “We don’t need a Redeemer”
Despite the optimism of Bayern, the meeting in Barcelona once again impressively showed how seriously the Euroleague takes the NBA’s push.
Euroleague CEO Paulius Motiejunas had already shot against the new project at the Spanish TV station Movistar+ : “We definitely don’t need a new league and no Redeemer either.”
And even after the session, the ELPA (Euroleague Players Association) released a clear statement. “Such projects pose the risk of fragmentation and confusion,” it said. The league ensured “openness to a dialogue”.
Does NBA Europe change European basketball?
This conciliatory passage in particular shows that the league is clear which great competition would bring a possible and incredibly financially strong NBA European Europe. At the session it became clear that not all clubs are fully committed to the Euroleague.
As the Portal BasketNews , which was always well informed in European basketball, Real Madrid did not want to determine, for example, whether one would extend its ten -year -old license, which expires in 2026.
Even the great rival, FC Barcelona, did not want to clearly confess. With ASVEL Villeurbanne and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, two more teams are advised.
How things will continue in European basketball is currently still completely open. However, it becomes clear that a possible NBA European could split even more. The Prestige project of the NBA could completely change basketball in Europe.
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