NBA, FIBA announce they are moving closer to new European league
By JAMES MADDEN
The NBA and FIBA announced on Monday that they will look to move forward on the inception of a potential professional basketball league in Europe. The leagues have also engaged with NBA ownership groups about potentially helping jumpstart this process.
“Advancing further this joint NBA-FIBA project is great news for the European basketball community,” said FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. “The format of the league respects European sport model principles by offering any ambitious club in the continent a fair pathway to the top. The project is conceived in a way that will improve the sustainability of the entire European basketball ecosystem, including players, clubs, leagues and national federations, by generating a knock-on effect that will strongly benefit basketball fans throughout Europe.”
With the new league, the NBA and FIBA will also dedicate financial support to European basketball communities, supporting domestic leagues, club team academies and the league’s existing programs to help aspiring professional players, coaches and referees.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the league feels this expansion could be an enormous opportunity for its growth.
“Our conversations with various stakeholders in Europe have reinforced our belief that an enormous opportunity exists around the creation of a new league on the continent,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe.”
The two leagues are expected to provide additional updates and information in the near future.
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