EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas spoke with The Athletic to debate the way forward for the league because it enters a interval of uncertainty with the NBA’s curiosity in creating its personal league in Europe. The NBA and EuroLeague have had a strained relationship, however there was a productive assembly just lately as they decide whether or not they might associate.Â
“Hear, it was a constructive assembly,” stated Motiejunas. “It was the primary trip of a few years that everyone was on the identical desk. And we have to thank FIBA for being within the center and attempting to place all people on the identical web page.
“What we heard is similar as what’s publicly recognized, that they’re within the exploration mode, and so they’re attempting to see how and what. We stated to them, like we stated publicly, we don’t consider that the brand new league is one thing that will assist the market.
“So we left with an open thoughts, saying that we’re able to collaborate. And the query is, how and when. We continue to grow, and we maintain doing our homework and maximizing the sport of basketball in Europe. So I consider that solely helps all the edges.
“And as a subsequent step, I consider we’ll have one other assembly, I’d say round September or throughout September to sit down down once more and hopefully get right into a deeper dialogue and analyzation of how we are able to work collectively.
“As a result of I repeat it and I stated it earlier than: we don’t want a brand new league. We’re doing actually good. The league is rising. We’re blissful to go and do it along with NBA and constantly use their energy to develop the basketball in Europe. So we’re open to that.”
Motiejunas was requested what a partnership with the NBA would seem like.
“They’ve a extremely robust picture,” stated Motiejunas. “They may also help with TV offers. They may also help with sponsorship. We will develop the pie greater if we go and work collectively. That is all the time the identical message. We have to care in regards to the basketball, the basketball fan, and if we are able to monetize the sport higher — and we consider that with the NBA, we are able to do it higher — that’s the power that we might get them to usher in, after which it comes from that.
“However we’ve got an enormous fan base. We’ve 25 years of historical past. That is what we stated to them. Why not sit down and see how we go and make selections collectively, moderately than simply creating a brand new league and for them to start out over? That is principally our message.
“And like I stated, we’re open to creating selections collectively and pitching collectively and dealing collectively to, firstly, develop the pie, after which, , the division half is straightforward. First it’s good to kill the animal to see how a lot meat is on the desk to divide.”
Motiejunas believes a rival league by the NBA would create confusion for followers.
“This new league would create confusion,” stated Motiejunas. “It will create division and on easy phrases, you go to the sponsor, and also you say, ‘I’m now this new, , NBA League.’ After which we go, ‘Effectively, we’re EuroLeague.’ After which, oh, there’s this Champions League; oh, there’s this Euro Cup. For the hardcore followers, all people is aware of EuroLeague, and all people is aware of Europe. And we aren’t afraid to lose these followers, as a result of we consider we’ve got a greater product instantly on the court docket.
However after we wish to develop all collectively to go and promote this product, you’d activate the TV and you don’t have any concept if it’s a top-tier competitors, second-tier, or third-tier. That’s what I imply, we are able to lose the potential to develop the product and get the followers to comply with us as a result of we actually have the most effective basketball on this planet on the court docket.”
