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NBA in Europe: Paris and Real Madrid at the heart of the project

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NBA in Europe: Paris and Real Madrid at the heart of the project

Photo by Savino Paolella

We are approaching the end of this year and 2025 is expected to be a very important date for European basketball. In fact, during the next calendar year, official announcements regarding the NBA Landing in Europe. A possibility that has been much talked about in the past, but which now seems closer than ever to being realized. Aris Barkas takes stock of the situation, who on the site Eurohoops provides further details of what Adam Silver’s intentions may be regarding the Old Continent.

The NBA’s intention to come to Europe is now clear and has been confirmed first from FIBA and then by the commissioner himself. It is not yet clear what and if there could be a role for the Euroleague, but at the moment the clubs linked to the ECA have decided to renew their commitment for another decade. At the moment, therefore, it seems there is EuroLeague total closure towards the NBA. This does not mean, however, that the situation cannot change in the future.

According to Eurohoops, in fact, several clubs that currently participate in the Euroleague are at the center of American interests. Above all, the Paris Basketball and the  Real Madrid. The NBA has had a strong connection with Paris for several years, having already played several games in the French capital. At the moment the club only has an annual license and therefore it would be very easy to convince the French to embrace this project. As if that were not enough, the team’s owner is American and the current GM is none other than David Kahn, former manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Adam Silver’s mind, therefore, Paris and more specifically Paris Basketball will be at the center of the project.

On top of that, the NBA is obviously interested to the big cities and the big markets. For this reason, Milan, London and Berlin are considered other priorities, even if they do not necessarily include the Lions and Alba. Furthermore, recent rumors have spoken of some contacts between the NBA and Real Madrid, Fenerbahce and Panathinaikos. The latter two have denied it, while Real has not exposed itself. Again according to Eurohoops, in fact,White they would be the prestigious club most interested in listening to the American offer.

Furthermore, the role that the Middle East could play into all of this. Silver sees Europe and the Middle East as a single market, so also various Israeli clubs could be involved in the project. Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Ra’anana have close ties to the NBA, while the family of the owner of Hapoel Jerusalem is the same one that runs the Dallas Mavericks. Also watch out for Dubai, a recent addition that is doing very well in the ABA Liga and has the potential to become another point of reference. According to Eurohoops, furthermore, the project could also include Jordi BertomeuThe former Euroleague CEO attended a Hapoel Jerusalem game and was recently in Abu Dhabi for the NBA preseason games.

One of the problems of the NBA’s arrival in Europe is certainly the calendar. European teams have been experiencing a problem of too many games in too short a time, putting the spectacle of the game and the health of the players at risk. For this reason, the NBA would like to avoid becoming yet another conflicting actor in this game between the parties. The League would like to coexist peacefully with the others and, why not, even have teams from the EuroLeague participate. For this reason, according to Eurohoops, one possibility to consider at least for the beginning of the project is to have several NBA preseason friendlies in Europe. The whole thing would be concluded before the start of the Euroleague season and the best team would get a spot in the NBA Cup.

Obviously, the portal concludes, at the moment there is nothing verified or decided. We are only talking about possible options, nothing more. What is certain is that the project will be done sooner or later and everything could happen sooner than one might expect. New developments are expected in the coming months, in what could be a turning point for European basketball.

 

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