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"Our idea is to create this league – call it 12 to 16 teams – with the biggest countries having permanent franchises. Call it the UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, or France. Two teams in each one of those markets that we know with certainty will have franchises there, and then we'll open it up to the rest of the ecosystem."
Representatives from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, two soccer and basketball heavyweights, Olimpia Milano, Panathinaikos, ASVEL, Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin were participants, signaling their interest in joining NBA Europe. NBA officials met privately with Fenerbahce, a top European team from Istanbul, last week in Berlin. Additionally, representatives from English soccer giant Manchester City were there, as were executives from Italian soccer powerhouse AC Milan, signaling their intent to either create new teams in their cities or invest further in existing teams.
Telegraph Media Group owner and Liverpool FC investor RedBird Capital Partners is working with the NBA on its plans to launch a European basketball league, City AM can reveal. RedBird, which also owns Italian football giants AC Milan, is playing a prominent role in wooing potential investors and partners in the venture at an exclusive meeting in London today.
RedBird is “very interested” in acquiring one of the new franchises, sources with knowledge of the situation said. Milan would seem the most likely location, given the firm’s existing connection through football.
Oh No He Didn't: Paolo on his relationship with the Italian fans: "If you ask me I would say they don't like me too much. I think you have to ask some fans how they feel but it is what it is at this point"
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EA7 Emporio Armani Milan are still firmly in the mix for NBA Europe, and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum made that clear while addressing the future of the project. As questions continue around which clubs and markets could be involved, Tatum confirmed that the Italian powerhouse remains part of the discussions and has not been ruled out.
"Yes, absolutely. I repeat, when I mentioned Milan, it was just an example. I recently discussed this with Ettore Messina as well, and we are on the same page. We are in talks with multiple groups," he said in an interview with Gazzetta.
NBA team owner Fertitta lit the brazier, a traditional Italian firepit in the Piazza Ruggero Settimo in the heart of Palermo after receiving the Olympic flame from Inzaghi, to conclude the festivities.
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While the NBA Europe project is gearing up, Carolina Morace, a member of the European Parliament, submitted a parliamentary question that directly concerns the issue. Moraca, one of the most iconic Italian footballers and also a longtime sports commentator in her country, directly tackles the issue. The title of the question is “Risks to the European sport model posed by the proposed ‘NBA Europe’ project.”
Ettore Messina has decided to step down as head coach of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, sources have confirmed to BasketNews. Alessandra Bocci of Gazzetta dello Sport was the first to report on Messina's decision to resign from coaching duties.
Messina also serves as President of Basketball Operations in Milan, and his contract with the club was set to run through 2026 Messina will remain with the club as a personal adviser to President Leo Dell'Orco, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Tatum also laid out countries that will likely host the 10-to-12 permanent NBA Europe franchises, identifying France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Greece. He also specifically singled out potential Euroleague clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and LDLC ASVEL (owned by former NBAer Tony Parker). “Almost like the Champions League of basketball in Europe,” Tatum said. “So brands like Real Madrid and Barca and Man City and PSG and AC Milan playing basketball. That’s pretty compelling. Not only premium live sports content that’s relevant in Europe, but it’s relevant globally. It’s relevant in Asia, it’s relevant in the United States and North America because some of the brands that we’re talking to have tremendous global followings.” He also mentioned there would likely be a bridge year before four other teams qualify for the league in Year 2, saying, “If you’re in Lithuania, if you’re in Serbia, if you’re in Croatia, other clubs in those markets, we want every team to have an opportunity to play into that top tier league.”