The NBA says the EuroLeague’s rejection of its merger offer will not in any way inhibit its plan to merge and create a single NBA Europe operation.
On Wednesday, the members of EuroLeague clubs declared that they were not backing the proposal.
According to ESPN, this was the outcome of the rare meeting of the clubs in Italy, and it followed more than two years of NBA work on the new league. The EuroLeague clubs have their own plans and sources claim are getting ready to create an expansion plan of their own.
“A partnership between the EuroLeague, FIBA and the NBA to unify the European basketball ecosystem would unlock the game’s enormous potential across Europe for the benefit of clubs, players and, most importantly, fans,” they said. “The NBA and FIBA remain committed to moving forward with a new professional men’s league in Europe and helping build a stronger, more sustainable basketball ecosystem alongside partners who share our vision of growth, opportunity and the core principles of the European sports model.”
However, ESPN believes there is still room for both parties to negotiate and reach common ground.
The NBA has received bids for expansion franchises in cities across Europe, and it intends to build teams that go head-to-head with the EuroLeague for fans, media rights and sponsorship money.
According to high-ranking European basketball officials who have been involved in the negotiations, a significant number of the 13 permanent EuroLeague teams have expressed an interest in joining NBA Europe. It has led to a fractured situation with many different angles and teams looking to secure their present and future. For now, though, the coalition is holding against the NBA’s recruitment attempts. But negotiations are expected to continue, sources said.
The model the NBA has been interested in creating would allow teams to compete in their national leagues on desired weekend days and play in NBA Europe during the week, sources said. There would also be expanded rosters so teams can have the depth to play in multiple competitions with a focus on investing in European player development.
