FIBA in serious conversation on possible team-up for NBA-owned European league

FIBA and the NBA are having a serious conversation about the possibility of creating a league in Europe. It will be an NBA-owned league, and the process is under discussion. Meanwhile, the NBA has also shown interest in making its brand global.

FIBA and NBA start processing the idea of European League

According to a fresh report by Joe Vardon via The Athletic, the NBA had a serious talk with FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis about starting a European league. Zagklis said he and his staff would remain in “serious conversation” with Adam Silver and his office about this idea.

Adam Silver is currently the NBA commissioner who is keen to make the NBA a global brand. NBA wants to push for a league that can compete with the Euroleague and top pro leagues in other countries.

During the annual year-end news conference on Monday, Zagklis speaks on the idea and said, “There is clear interest (by the NBA) and there are ongoing discussions with FIBA. We’ve been having and will continue having discussions with … the company that operates the Euroleague.”

“It is something that has been on our radar. We tried to bring everyone together. This was not possible. So our job is to continue having serious conversations with our partners at the NBA.”

Will it be a game-changer for NBA in pursuit of achieving global brand value?

On the flip side, NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver is optimistic about starting a new league in Europe. Creating a European venture was already in the NBA’s plans. Top players in the league are from overseas countries, and their representation will help the NBA to promote their brand.

Silver earlier said that he was studying how the top European clubs have developed academy-style training programs for youth players that better prepare them to play professionally than the current AAU system in the U.S.

If we go through the European continent, then the EuroLeague is most probably the second-best league after the NBA in the world. This league consists of 18 of the continent’s best teams, including 13 permanent members and five that must qualify. This is how teams are divided into two tiers.

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“We want the growth of our sport” – Zagklis adds spark to European league idea

“FIBA has a very consistent approach. We want the growth of our sport, but at the same time we want to protect what are the fundamentals of our ecosystem, which can not only relate to the rules of course, the calendar, but it is a question of respecting the national teams, the national leagues,” Zagklis continued on his idea.

“We have a very well developed ecosystem of national leagues and certainly (want to) protect the work not only of a few clubs, but of almost 500 or 600 clubs that are the pyramid that produces players and that has brought the sport of basketball where it is today.”

Meanwhile, this idea has stirred reactions from fans on social media, and they compared it with the UEFA Champions League, which is the biggest European brand in football. One fan writes, “I thought the NBA was a professional league the best in the world. We not only can compete with the Euroleague the NBAs worst team would finish in first place.”

Few fans have suggested that the NBA should improve its own league first. Well, this idea will get more attention, but it’s certain that both the NBA and FIBA will implement it soon. NBA have already started organising pre-season games in various countries to increase its brand value.

Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports