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The NBA is determined to launch its own European league. If it succeeds, will that mean the end of the EuroLeague? Chus Bueno: I'm taking a preliminary step. As you know, I have a very good relationship with the NBA and many of its executives, including Adam Silver and Mark Tatum. They've opened what's called a 'data room,' which is a collection of files where they explain the project to the people they want to explain it to. This ends on the 26th or 27th, and then they'll present their conclusions to their Board of Governors. For now, we have to be respectful, we have to wait, and we have to see how the market responds to what they say they want to do and what their proposed project is worth. We agreed with the NBA that we would wait and that once this process is over, we would sit down together. Because, as they themselves have said, they would be delighted to discuss the matter with the EuroLeague and see if there's any common ground and if we can reach some kind of agreement.
So what might happen then? Chus Bueno: There are two scenarios. The NBA raises the money, and it's $5 billion, as they say or as reported in the press, that they're aiming for. Well, that would be very good news for basketball. European basketball has never had $5 billion to invest in its ecosystem. So we would have to sit down with them and say, "How can we maximize this opportunity together?" And we need to be well-positioned to have a proper dialogue so we can do it together. So even if the NBA raises the money, that doesn't mean they'll do it alone... Chus Bueno: No, no, of course not. I think they also know it's easier to do it together. One of the problems basketball has had is that it hasn't monetized, and that's why the NBA sees an opportunity to do so. I saw that when I was in the NBA; everything has become too fragmented. When you fragment the market, you dilute the value, and then it's much harder to monetize the fans because they're divided, they're not in one place. It's harder to monetize sponsorship deals, to monetize TV deals because everything is so fragmented. If the NBA comes in and does things on its own… well, we believe from this side of the table that it will fragment the market even more and further divide the value. I think we all know that if we can work in a united ecosystem, it will become more monetized. So that's what we're working on. And if the NBA doesn't come because in the end it doesn't raise the capital they wanted and they decide to pause, wait a little longer, whatever... well, as the Euroleague we must have a plan, which is what we presented a week and a half or two weeks ago, a three-year plan.
And of these scenarios, which do you see as most feasible? Chus Bueno: If they raise the money, the most logical thing would be a joint competition. Having two top-level competitions would split the market and lower the average level. It wouldn't help anyone. The best thing is to do it together, even if it means compromises from both sides.
Should teams that are not public limited sports companies (SADs) like Barça or Real Madrid create commercial companies to access financing from these funds? Chus Bueno: Barcelona and Real Madrid have financed themselves without becoming public limited companies. I don't think they need to. They've created different vehicles. Real Madrid created a company called Bernabéu SL to bring in money for the stadium. Barça has also created some companies. The thing is, like any club, you want to protect your equity and you want to look at operations differently than if you were the owner, a situation where you put up the money and have more independence. It creates a bit more doubt, fear, and confusion for club members when you're handing it over to a third party because the club used to belong to everyone. Each club must understand what it wants to be and align it with its members, who are the ones who have to decide. In Germany, for example, there are many clubs that have done this, but where 51% are members and 49% are sponsors or investors. And they've felt comfortable with this model.
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And speaking of changes, the most important fact after the appointment of Chus Bueno in this role is that Real Madrid‘s stance towards the EuroLeague has totally changed. The club has not made any official comment yet, neither in favor of the NBA Europe project, despite being a common secret that they are in contact with the NBA, or for the change of the EuroLeague management. However, according to many different sources, Real Madrid was actively involved in lobbying for Bueno to become the new CEO, and the course of action presented in the latest EuroLeague Board aligns with the plans of the Spanish club.
What everyone agrees on, just as they did with his appointment, is that he has everything it takes to be the ideal executive to work towards consensus within European basketball, given his deep understanding of the sport's situation, having held leadership positions at all levels. Will he ever achieve that consensus, or is it just a pipe dream? Chus Bueno: I have to thank Adam [Silver], Mark [Tatum], and George [Aivazoglou] for their words; they said I could be a bridge-builder. I know the NBA well, and I know them well. I have an excellent professional relationship with them and a great deal of personal respect. I've already spoken with them, and we've discussed the situation. They're currently gauging market interest in investing in this product they've created. They've given themselves until the end of the month, and when that period ends, we'll sit down with their conclusions. If the NBA can raise $2 billion or $5 billion and integrate itself into the European basketball ecosystem, that's great news. Basketball has never had this much money. The key is how to maximize the opportunity. We're divided, fragmented, and a lot of money is wasted—money that shouldn't be wasted. It's better to try to find something we can do together. We'll explore what can and can't be done; that's part of the discussion. But the trust and the good relationship are there.
What about the lawsuits that Paulius Motiejunas, the former CEO of Euroleague Basketball, threatened to file against the NBA, the funds, and the institutions that were involved in those operations? Chus Bueno: I don't believe in that. We've put it on hold and it's stalled. What I want is for this period to pass so we can see how we can sit down with them. If there's an opportunity, we'll explore it. We'll explore all the options. And both clubs and leagues are willing to do so.
If the NBA doesn't ultimately get the money it expected from investment funds, why do you think it's better for European teams to partner with the Euroleague instead of going it alone? Chus Bueno: Because if you do it with all 12 clubs, or 13 including CSKA, you already have the best fan bases, the best cities, the best teams. You don't have to split it in half; it's a fundamental part. Half the value is lost. Do you want to dilute that value? Anything that fragments or divides is detrimental to basketball and diminishes its value. What makes the most sense is to sit down, try to build those bridges we were talking about, and since there's a good relationship and trust, I think it can be achieved at both the league and club levels. Q. Is an alliance between the NBA and the Euroleague possible? Chus Bueno: Of course it's possible. Of course. We'll see what happens once the NBA's deadline for securing the investment has passed. But we also made that clear to Mark Tatum last week. They know we're here, and we've agreed to let this period pass, but we're very eager to sit down and see how we can find common ground.
The NextGen EuroLeague tournament being held in Abu Dhabi will be cancelled after initially being temporarily suspended. The EuroLeague has announced that the tournament, which was supposed to resume at 17:00 local time with the matchup between AS Monaco and Aris, won't continue. "Euroleague Basketball regrets to announce the cancellation of the adidas NextGen EuroLeague qualifying tournament in Abu Dhabi," the EuroLeague said in a statement. "In light of the current situation in the region, this decision has been made to guarantee the safety and security of all participants." "After careful evaluation and ongoing consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders, it was determined that cancelling the event is the most responsible course of action at this time." According to Gigantes del Basket, the tournament was stopped during the AS Monaco vs. Aris game earlier today following attacks on military bases near the venue.
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The EuroLeague has officially confirmed venue changes for several upcoming regular season games involving Israeli clubs, with matches now set to be played at neutral locations. These adjustments affect games for both Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv and Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv. Maccabi will face Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Round 33 at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia, on Tuesday, March 24.
NBA senior leadership has expressed hope the EuroLeague and NBA Europe can become partners, including the possibility of EuroLeague taking a stake in NBA Europe, an equity exchange between the two leagues, or perhaps even a merger, according to sources familiar with the matter.
After an episode in the NBA, where he was a member of Atlanta, talented Serbian basketball player Nikola Đurišić is on the verge of cooperating with the red and whites, Meridian Sport has learned . As soon as the parting was certain, the president of the club from Mali Kalemegdan, Željko Drčelić, went all out to get Mega's former student, who gave the green light and is expected to sign a contract with the team that has been in his heart since childhood. Details will be known perhaps tomorrow.
So far, 10 of the 13 EuroLeague shareholder clubs have verbally or officially committed to extending their A licenses for another 10 years. In other words, the majority of long-term stakeholders have expressed their intention to stick with the current EuroLeague model. However, three clubs – Fenerbahce, Real Madrid, and ASVEL – have yet to make any formal commitments. According to former EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas, the lack of clarity from those clubs is creating instability. "European basketball is going through a transformation with a major threat – the arrival of the NBA," Motiejunas told LRT. "There is a lot of talk about this new league and about how everything could change dramatically. Several clubs have not extended their licenses yet, and that creates instability in European basketball."