"It makes no sense"—EuroLeague responds to NBA-Europe plans

In the fall of 2024, discussions emerged about the potential creation of an NBA-style European league. While the NBA itself neither confirmed nor denied the reports, the idea has raised concerns within EuroLeague, which sees it as a direct challenge to its position.

Details: EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejūnas dismissed the need for a new European competition, emphasizing that the continent already has four existing basketball tournaments.

Quote:

"Reading comments about another league in Europe, for me personally, makes no sense. We already have four different leagues. As EuroLeague, we have the best product available. I don’t think that’s something that should be overlooked or undervalued because what clubs and the league have achieved over 25 years is incredible.

I understand the NBA’s approach and recognize how great they are—it’s the number one basketball league in the world. But I don’t like the mentality of: ‘Oh, we’ll come in and teach everyone how it’s done.’ Of course, everyone wants to listen to the NBA and see what they have to offer.

But having five leagues means we’re forgetting about the fans. You turn on the TV and don’t even know who’s playing against whom. And now there will be another league? Again, it makes no sense—not just for the fans, but also for the revenue we can generate by attracting sponsors and securing investments.

If you think about the NBA, FIBA, and EuroLeague, I believe we need to protect basketball, compete with other sports, and focus on growing the game," Motiejūnas stated.