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A textbook career that grew yearly, supported by an Olympic silver and bronze with the Serbian national team, losing only to Team USA in 2016 and 2024. But a little over a decade ago, things were far from ideal. On the 6.75 Range podcast, Jokic's agent Misko Raznatovic reveals the dramatic story leading up to Jokic's move to Denver. "He was in his mind already in red and blue, he just needed to put on the jersey," Raznatovic said. "The deal with Barcelona was completely done. We decided to pull Jokic from the draft, which upset four or five teams, with Denver leading that frustration. I honestly didn't think he was ready to go to the NBA from Mega, not because of talent, but his physique, he needed a lot of work. I was fine with him going to the EuroLeague, Barcelona, we agreed on a three-year contract."
An official from one EuroLeague franchise had earlier scoffed at a proposed $500M figure, and -- considering the template for NBA Europe includes existing EuroLeague clubs -- it seemed unclear whether teams will be priced out of joining. “Look, the FC Barcelonas and the PSGs and the Manchester Citys, they can do [between $500M and $1B],” said one source briefed on the NBA’s plan.
"We've received many offers from highly respected, mostly American companies, with impressive proposals. But we won't share ownership," Laporta stated. "We'd consider partnering on event operations like concerts. "Many companies have approached us and continue to do so. But again, if the NBA enters Europe, our arena will need to meet their standards." A potential partnership with NBA Europe remains a viable option. "Yes, and it's quite advanced," Laporta noted. "I can't reveal the structure yet—there are several options. There's an understanding with the EuroLeague, and the NBA is also talking with FIBA. Clubs like Barca are of great interest to them. Currently, we are listening and evaluating."
Club president Joan Laporta addressed the future of Palau Blaugrana in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, revealing when fans might expect a new home. "In the second quarter of next year, we'll unveil the preliminary project," Laporta said. "But there are other factors to consider. I attended a related meeting last night. There are rumors that the NBA might expand to Europe, and if that happens, arena standards will likely change. "We're keeping that in mind," he added. "For now, we plan to have the new Palau Blaugrana completed by early 2028."
Former Thunder guard Alex Abrines retires at age 31
Alex Abrines, the international forward and longtime FC Barcelona player, has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball at 31, just days before turning 32. Abrines shared a heartfelt message on his personal social media: “Dear fans, the time has come to close a very important chapter in my life. After many years dedicated to professional basketball, I have made the difficult decision to retire.
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Raul Neto is back in the ACB for the 2025-26 season, signing a one-year contract with San Pablo Burgos. His new side announced his addition on Thursday. Following 132 appearances in the ACB from 2011 to 2015, the native of Sao Paulo made his way to 464 NBA games, spread between the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers, from 2015 to 2023. Before the 2023-24 season, he signed a one-year contract with Fenerbahce Beko but never played for the Istanbul-based club due to a serious knee injury suffered during the FIBA World Cup 2023 with Brazil. Early in the 2024-25 season, following a spell in his home country with Pinheiros, he joined FC Barcelona but was limited to two appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague due to an adductor injury and was later released from his contract.
Jabari Parker and FC Barcelona have mutually agreed on an early termination of their contract. Barca announced the departure of the 30-year-old forward on Monday.
Justin Anderson is officially leaving FC Barcelona after one season and is set to join Dubai Basketball, the new EuroLeague team, for next season.
FC Barcelona has announced that Dame Sarr will no longer be part of the team for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. The Italian guard and the club mutually agreed to end their partnership so Sarr can focus on his NBA aspirations. After joining in 2022 from Bassano, he made his EuroLeague debut vs Panathinaikos and played 15 games this season.
Dame Sarr didn’t let Barcelona’s disapproval, as he told HoopsHype, stop him from taking advantage of his Nike Hoop Summit opportunity – and it’s easy to see why. At 6-foot-6, the swingman already looks the part of a pro, boasting a toned frame and a versatile skillset. He’s a strong candidate to make the jump overseas, with blue-blood programs and Power 4 schools (like Illinois, who’s likely losing Will Riley to the 2025 draft) keeping close tabs on him.
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According to BasketNews sources, the NBA sees Real Madrid as a top target for the new league and hopes the Spanish club will join NBA Europe if the new project moves forward. Barcelona also declined to take a definitive stance on extending its shareholder license, with sources indicating the Catalan club will likely follow Real Madrid's lead.
While the NBA has yet to publicly disclose specific teams involved in its European expansion plans, sources indicate that Real Madrid is viewed as a primary target. The Spanish powerhouse is believed to have the strongest preference toward joining the NBA-backed project, and multiple sources suggest that if Real Madrid makes the leap, FC Barcelona could follow suit. Beyond these two clubs, a handful of other EuroLeague teams from key markets are on the NBA's radar. However, the extent of their interest remains uncertain.
According to information obtained by EL ESPAÑOL from highly reliable NBA and FIBA sources, the American league will partner with FIBA Europe, the top governing body on the continent, to create this new competition. The new league will be semi-open, as the initial plan includes between eight and ten franchises, plus four teams that will qualify annually through FIBA competitions. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are the two clubs the NBA wants to include from Spain. According to sources from both organizations, they are free to explore this new project and acquire a franchise, as they have not signed the renewal of their contract with the EuroLeague.
During NBA All-Star Media Day, Toni Canyameras of Mundo Deportivo asked Brown whether he could see himself joining FC Barcelona in some way, either as a player or even as an investor. "Maybe, you never know," Brown replied. "I love traveling. I love to be like an ambassador. I speak a few different languages, maybe I'm not very fluent, but I can get around with a few different languages. I love to travel and explore the world and use the sport of basketball to bring people together."
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