The NBA (National Basketball Association) is reportedly devising a plan to take over European basketball, which could potentially lead to the end of the EuroLeague. The NBA has nearly everything, from perfect organization to global popularity. However, it lacks an adequate developmental competition for players, and the G-League hasn’t proven to be a consistently effective resource.
Conversely, European club basketball is worn out due to discord between EuroLeague and FIBA, clubs and national federations, and even between EuroLeague teams and their partners from IMG. Especially because IMG is allegedly prepared to sue EuroLeague owners if Abu Dhabi – which IMG advocates for – is not the organizer of this season’s Final Four. It still remains unclear who among the European giants would partake in this “revolution”, and the places of Red Star and Partizan in this NBA project are also uncertain.
The NBA is now ready to make a direct investment into European basketball, as the pressure of high expenditures in European club basketball is becoming increasingly unmanageable, while many clubs are losing money and others profit. By entering this new cooperation with the NBA, the league knows that Europe currently cannot match its high standards both technically and organizationally. The NBA hopes to cultivate more talent in Europe and avoid a future decline.
