What can EuroLeague do while NBA slow walks?
Set a firm deadline for renewing team licenses and mean it.
Approve expansion teams.
Monitor and ride IMG hard for media progress.
If they accept equity sale, use a substantial portion on growth related incentives instead of the cash exiting.
Make select contract offers before NBA draft and free agency. Do more multi-year deals. Refuse draftee contract buyouts.
Lock down arenas contractually where pissible that are not already locked down.
Review everything NBA is considering or watchers are considering and decide which they should / can do.
Aggressively pursue / welcome new team equity partners, especially those willing to infuse operating money or infrastructure money.
Get into London first, if... you think it is feasible.
Gauge touring league plausibility. If real, try for an alliance or merger.
Promote at least one new team into Euroleague from Spain. And possibly France and Turkey.
Talk with the football barons.
Consider a new President / CEO with higher level corporate leadership / strategy / media experience.
Talk to NBA greats (current or recent past with big assets) about opportunities to participate at any level from majority owner, to minority owner, executive, advisor, coach. Talk to LeBron James directly. Talk to the Gasols. Durant, Jokic, Doncic, SGA, Gobert, Jaylen Brown, Olawujon, Ginobili...
Consider offers to best under 19 Americans.
Consider offers to recently retired big name American players or those almost there.
Consider selling minority or majority league stake to TNT owners or another media company.
Consider North American franchises including Canada and Mexico. Consider Buenos Aires. As a threat and maybe for real. Or possibly timeshare between cities.
Consider franchises in China, Japan. Consider deals with top Australian clubs.
European and global league possibilities
Re: European possibilities
NBA Europe Director:
"Aivazoglou ruled out the inclusion of Middle Eastern clubs: 'We want our league to be a European League in a geographical sense. That’s why a club from the Middle East will not be in the league.'"
Guess that applies to other places too. But not Turkey.Or Israel.
"the EuroLeague told reporters that not all had renewed their licence to participate in the competition, and they have until June 2026 to do so."
"Aivazoglou ruled out the inclusion of Middle Eastern clubs: 'We want our league to be a European League in a geographical sense. That’s why a club from the Middle East will not be in the league.'"
Guess that applies to other places too. But not Turkey.Or Israel.
"the EuroLeague told reporters that not all had renewed their licence to participate in the competition, and they have until June 2026 to do so."
Re: European possibilities
Since the approval to "proceed", the NBA has repeated basic design, intention to respect European basketball and "done" nothing.
Euroleague officials whine daily and do nothing.
European fans? I haven't really heard anything substantial for or against, though perhaps I could look harder.
It is a non-developing story based on the news.
In private? Probably the same.
NBA wants the money and control. Euroleague wants money but seemingly wants control more or at least until money is actually delivered.
Talk of talk but no sign of any progress.
Barca and Real Madrid continue to sit on fence. Either the NBA offers enough to get at least one or both to jump or collaboration isn't going anywhere. How many others will want to jump with them, be invited to jump, actually jump? It comes down to cost and / or reward incentive.
Nobody has really talked about what a jump in team pays / receives initially and on-going. NBA own 50% of league and / or new franchises or all franchises? What are the negotiations on money? NBA not saying, Euroleague not saying. Have they even gotten down to that detail? If they had, one might expect somebody on the Euroleague teams to leak / spill the beans on the structure / terms.
Have not heard any names present themselves or even be floated for new franchise buyers.
May not be for years. What are the terms of the investment offer? Is the NBA going to work with a financial firm? Whom, when?
Have not heard any NBA owner say anything in favor or in hesitation about the "plan".
They say they have been working on this for years or decades. What do they settled beyond 2-3 paragraphs?
What arenas do they actually have a lease offer for? When do they fill out a league development office? Who is actually negotiating with media partners and on what deadlines?
It is a dream, a fancy until real actions occur.
Have they spent $5 million on the plan? Way more? When do they commit the next $50-500 million?
Have they considered building their own standalone media outlet? Buying / assembling one?
I'll keep watching but so far nothing of significance has happened on the plan.
Euroleague officials whine daily and do nothing.
European fans? I haven't really heard anything substantial for or against, though perhaps I could look harder.
It is a non-developing story based on the news.
In private? Probably the same.
NBA wants the money and control. Euroleague wants money but seemingly wants control more or at least until money is actually delivered.
Talk of talk but no sign of any progress.
Barca and Real Madrid continue to sit on fence. Either the NBA offers enough to get at least one or both to jump or collaboration isn't going anywhere. How many others will want to jump with them, be invited to jump, actually jump? It comes down to cost and / or reward incentive.
Nobody has really talked about what a jump in team pays / receives initially and on-going. NBA own 50% of league and / or new franchises or all franchises? What are the negotiations on money? NBA not saying, Euroleague not saying. Have they even gotten down to that detail? If they had, one might expect somebody on the Euroleague teams to leak / spill the beans on the structure / terms.
Have not heard any names present themselves or even be floated for new franchise buyers.
May not be for years. What are the terms of the investment offer? Is the NBA going to work with a financial firm? Whom, when?
Have not heard any NBA owner say anything in favor or in hesitation about the "plan".
They say they have been working on this for years or decades. What do they settled beyond 2-3 paragraphs?
What arenas do they actually have a lease offer for? When do they fill out a league development office? Who is actually negotiating with media partners and on what deadlines?
It is a dream, a fancy until real actions occur.
Have they spent $5 million on the plan? Way more? When do they commit the next $50-500 million?
Have they considered building their own standalone media outlet? Buying / assembling one?
I'll keep watching but so far nothing of significance has happened on the plan.
Re: European possibilities
Global F1 style touring league?
Seen zero actions beyond reports of specific money funds talking. Not sure anybody has actually committed money. Operating partner named and UBS as an adviser.
3-4 months of no press.
A touring league seems like a novelty that would wear off.
End game merger hopes? Could be.
Need to read about PGA - Liv merger talk. Hear it is stalled. Hear that LIV operates at a large deficit. They probably not care that much.But LIV success, survival or failure is likely to have some influence on new basketball initiatives.
My impression is that the basketball touring league is trying to involve more partners beyond the middle east. Maybe counting more on event revenues than media deals.
I know LeBron involvement has been denied but I'd keep an eye on him. And Steph Curry. The two most obvious targets for recruits / strategic partners. Team Steph and Team LeBron with hand-picked or approved teammates could interest them and be marketed. They've got to market something beyond exhibition level games. Team Jokic and Doncic down the line?
All this is a race / competition about business strategy and execution. Who is actually good or really good? Not is more likely
Seen zero actions beyond reports of specific money funds talking. Not sure anybody has actually committed money. Operating partner named and UBS as an adviser.
3-4 months of no press.
A touring league seems like a novelty that would wear off.
End game merger hopes? Could be.
Need to read about PGA - Liv merger talk. Hear it is stalled. Hear that LIV operates at a large deficit. They probably not care that much.But LIV success, survival or failure is likely to have some influence on new basketball initiatives.
My impression is that the basketball touring league is trying to involve more partners beyond the middle east. Maybe counting more on event revenues than media deals.
I know LeBron involvement has been denied but I'd keep an eye on him. And Steph Curry. The two most obvious targets for recruits / strategic partners. Team Steph and Team LeBron with hand-picked or approved teammates could interest them and be marketed. They've got to market something beyond exhibition level games. Team Jokic and Doncic down the line?
All this is a race / competition about business strategy and execution. Who is actually good or really good? Not is more likely
Re: European possibilities
NBA Europe is suggested at 16 team level and it could happen that way with significant Euroleague defections; but without that; it would likely to be more like 8 core in 4 countries and maybe 4-8 supplemental from outside Euroleague or also brand new.
The supplementals could be more or fully league owned for later sale or relocation.
I think it will be hard to sell 8 major capital franchises especially without strong revenue agreements (media and sponsorships) in hand.
Media and sponsors are not going to hand over big money without stars and strong signs of viewership and stability.
This isn't a distant Caesar decision / simple administrative project execution This will likely take hundreds of people. An army in the field. Show me an army in the field moving and fighting and building. A 5-10+ year campaign.
The supplementals could be more or fully league owned for later sale or relocation.
I think it will be hard to sell 8 major capital franchises especially without strong revenue agreements (media and sponsorships) in hand.
Media and sponsors are not going to hand over big money without stars and strong signs of viewership and stability.
This isn't a distant Caesar decision / simple administrative project execution This will likely take hundreds of people. An army in the field. Show me an army in the field moving and fighting and building. A 5-10+ year campaign.
Re: European possibilities
The UK is the "most important" opportunity for NBA Europe?? That is a highly speculative position.
Football clubs buying basketball franchises? Would have to a financial slam dunk and viewed as not negatively impacting football support, revenue and management attention.
Football clubs buying basketball franchises? Would have to a financial slam dunk and viewed as not negatively impacting football support, revenue and management attention.
Re: European possibilities
Touring league concept of 2 weeks in different global cities might appeal to players, single or in a couple with no kids or ones willing to bring or leave them. But not sure stars will want to do this, possibly over more months. Might see a rotation. Players who do it a year or two.
Some stars would probably try to negotiate skipping some cities. Or just doing it. "Injury" or other excuse.
Some stars would probably try to negotiate skipping some cities. Or just doing it. "Injury" or other excuse.
Re: European possibilities
Among the many things to negotiate would be how long teams are bound to the new league, when the team's share of league ownership / revenue vests, what exit fees or forfeitures would apply to someone wanting to leave and whether owners of teams can own any other basketball team or in specific leagues.
Terms on player transfers or loans in & out would have to set and teams may have different opinions.
Will policy be decided by an executive or a league council? Will the recursive be decided by NBA or a league council? Will ownership and presumably voting by 50-50 or will either or both sides seek 51+%?
Terms on player transfers or loans in & out would have to set and teams may have different opinions.
Will policy be decided by an executive or a league council? Will the recursive be decided by NBA or a league council? Will ownership and presumably voting by 50-50 or will either or both sides seek 51+%?
Re: European possibilities
An all party meeting with again very little revealed. The idea of joining teams paying a participation fee was said a little louder but without specifying it. NBA wants participation fees AND retention of 50% of league ownership and presumably central tv revenue? Hard to see that design advancing without locked down massive new revenue streams used to measure the desirability / feasibility of joining.
NBA says no middle eastern teams but Israel.
EuroLeague expands participation to 20 including Dubai. Not sure, but shares of central TV money may not expand or not evenly.
Middle Eastern money could be involved via particpation of owned sporting groups in Manchester and Paris. If they would take those footholds.
This is an attempted franchising system, much like with WNBA. Almost 30 years to get to this point.
Spanish teams continue to say the least.
The hoped for interest from leading football teams is not apparent in the press. I've seen no media presence of other brand new potential european owners.
The probability of this moving forward fast looks low to me at this time.
That Adam Silver was not there directly is a significant sign that this is very early and still tentative. Starting play in 2026-27 seems very unlikely and virtually impossible without major advance in 3-6 months. At this pace 3-6 months seems likely to accomplish little.
The idea of 16 teams seems suspect. It keeps attention wide, keeps idea of general Euroleague participation on the table but it is hard to see 16 teams paying sizeable participation fees all at once and leaving the known structure / competition behind. Even 4-8 is totally unsupported at this time.
8 teams is probably the bare minimum and that would look sketchy in a sea of other leagues.
The idea of a few breakaway Euroleague teams, especially the Spainish teams, joining a new league remains pretty farfetched imo, especially without guaranteed far greater revenue and assurance of success and probably better terms than anyone else will get. There are no confirmed signs of especially advanced courtship with the Spanish teams.
Alba Berlin going back to BCL makes the idea of big commitments to NBA Europe from Berlin seem pretty thin.
I remain unconvinced the UK cares about basketball anywhere remotely close to the NBA's imagined dream level.
Is France going to support basketball more than now, an American influenced version? I doubt it.
Very real chance this initiative fails or fails to even start.
If it is Euroleague vs. NBA Europe, there may not be any winners for a long time. What media partner is really going to jump into a competition with the EuroLeague and all the other leagues in the shadow of football?
No sign that NBA owners are offering or willing to offer major start-up cash. Wanting to take / take from the start is a departure from WNBA which barely / finally sorta worked, at least for awhile. Will NBA owners seek to cash out gradually? Will they try to cash out of Europe eventually? How if at all will NBA Europe participation fees and TV revenues and any other revenues flow to NBA owners? Are they going to sit at league office?
So, so much unspecified.
It remains totally undeveloped how a new version of european basketball will be an entertainment product that appeals beyond the current fan base and / or in fact captures the current fan base.
Will the NBA have to build its own video network? Online, on cable, over the air? No sign they are actually willing to do that. If not though, who is it?
Zero sign yet of any efforts to market NBA Europe to U.S. or any other markets. May wait to much later for that but it might be very important in long-run.
They say NBA Europe teams would maintain involvement in domestic leagues. But I have a hard time believing that would last.
It is a complicated situation but so far I have no reason to believe that they know a successful path forward or will execute it.
NBA says no middle eastern teams but Israel.
EuroLeague expands participation to 20 including Dubai. Not sure, but shares of central TV money may not expand or not evenly.
Middle Eastern money could be involved via particpation of owned sporting groups in Manchester and Paris. If they would take those footholds.
This is an attempted franchising system, much like with WNBA. Almost 30 years to get to this point.
Spanish teams continue to say the least.
The hoped for interest from leading football teams is not apparent in the press. I've seen no media presence of other brand new potential european owners.
The probability of this moving forward fast looks low to me at this time.
That Adam Silver was not there directly is a significant sign that this is very early and still tentative. Starting play in 2026-27 seems very unlikely and virtually impossible without major advance in 3-6 months. At this pace 3-6 months seems likely to accomplish little.
The idea of 16 teams seems suspect. It keeps attention wide, keeps idea of general Euroleague participation on the table but it is hard to see 16 teams paying sizeable participation fees all at once and leaving the known structure / competition behind. Even 4-8 is totally unsupported at this time.
8 teams is probably the bare minimum and that would look sketchy in a sea of other leagues.
The idea of a few breakaway Euroleague teams, especially the Spainish teams, joining a new league remains pretty farfetched imo, especially without guaranteed far greater revenue and assurance of success and probably better terms than anyone else will get. There are no confirmed signs of especially advanced courtship with the Spanish teams.
Alba Berlin going back to BCL makes the idea of big commitments to NBA Europe from Berlin seem pretty thin.
I remain unconvinced the UK cares about basketball anywhere remotely close to the NBA's imagined dream level.
Is France going to support basketball more than now, an American influenced version? I doubt it.
Very real chance this initiative fails or fails to even start.
If it is Euroleague vs. NBA Europe, there may not be any winners for a long time. What media partner is really going to jump into a competition with the EuroLeague and all the other leagues in the shadow of football?
No sign that NBA owners are offering or willing to offer major start-up cash. Wanting to take / take from the start is a departure from WNBA which barely / finally sorta worked, at least for awhile. Will NBA owners seek to cash out gradually? Will they try to cash out of Europe eventually? How if at all will NBA Europe participation fees and TV revenues and any other revenues flow to NBA owners? Are they going to sit at league office?
So, so much unspecified.
It remains totally undeveloped how a new version of european basketball will be an entertainment product that appeals beyond the current fan base and / or in fact captures the current fan base.
Will the NBA have to build its own video network? Online, on cable, over the air? No sign they are actually willing to do that. If not though, who is it?
Zero sign yet of any efforts to market NBA Europe to U.S. or any other markets. May wait to much later for that but it might be very important in long-run.
They say NBA Europe teams would maintain involvement in domestic leagues. But I have a hard time believing that would last.
It is a complicated situation but so far I have no reason to believe that they know a successful path forward or will execute it.
Re: European possibilities
Foreign tours by US college teams may be a growing development. Even the Big 3 and Overtime Elite are touring as are individual players in some fashion.
The Big 3 is now also creating / selling franchises in specific US cities and trying to leverage NBA legends as Coaches. Did not know Drexler is Commissioner and has been for a long time. Going to an 8 city league and talking of getting bigger.
Blurring US and international play could potentially make them another actor in the new equation. Especially if they eventually ally with others.
The Big 3 could theoretically someday be US, Europe and Asia.
The Big 3 is now also creating / selling franchises in specific US cities and trying to leverage NBA legends as Coaches. Did not know Drexler is Commissioner and has been for a long time. Going to an 8 city league and talking of getting bigger.
Blurring US and international play could potentially make them another actor in the new equation. Especially if they eventually ally with others.
The Big 3 could theoretically someday be US, Europe and Asia.
Re: European possibilities
So new EuroLeague champions had 6 Americans and 3 of 4 leading scorers were Americans.
Half the top 20 leaders on EuroLeague Player Impact Rating are American.
Will half of NCAA leaders become young europeans?
Lots of shuffle between basketball economic zones.
Half the top 20 leaders on EuroLeague Player Impact Rating are American.
Will half of NCAA leaders become young europeans?
Lots of shuffle between basketball economic zones.
Re: European possibilities
European clubs and NCAA compete for european prospects... but could potentially cooperate early and late. European prospects have to go thru draft process but there are things they can do to influence the process and they don't have to sign immediately. It would take a lot of cooperation but an NBA team with partners might be able to influence outcomes. Or at least try. The selective sharing of inside information could represent a minimal impact. Cooperation to some degree may already occur.
Re: European possibilities
NCAA taking a lot of young Europeans.
That probably hurts EuroLeague and other leagues initially and potentially NBA Europe but might help some in long-run- if American viewers of European products are thought to be important.
The mass exodus is about pursuing money but might also be commentary of playing time and praise coming late and quality of play and facilities.
Just about to start reading about the basketball mess in Britain. Business strife. Seems unlikely that a rich new layer emerges any time soon.
Nothing will work without a mutually acceptable framework / financial division between "league" and teams. Or team ownership of league like with NBA.
Really nothing gets done without a rich, interested, paying media partner. For local British scene or NBA Europe.
No public sign that serious, specific negotiations have made any progress for NBA Europe and unclear if it has actually begun.
That probably hurts EuroLeague and other leagues initially and potentially NBA Europe but might help some in long-run- if American viewers of European products are thought to be important.
The mass exodus is about pursuing money but might also be commentary of playing time and praise coming late and quality of play and facilities.
Just about to start reading about the basketball mess in Britain. Business strife. Seems unlikely that a rich new layer emerges any time soon.
Nothing will work without a mutually acceptable framework / financial division between "league" and teams. Or team ownership of league like with NBA.
Really nothing gets done without a rich, interested, paying media partner. For local British scene or NBA Europe.
No public sign that serious, specific negotiations have made any progress for NBA Europe and unclear if it has actually begun.
Re: European possibilities
Sliver: "So we're at least a couple years away from launching."
They apparently have very little done. Very little even adequately researched. After decades of ambition and lots of recent talk.
Others will do stuff, if they want, before NBA actually does anything meaningful, probably. The deadline to renew EuroLeague licenses will pass next summer. The touring league will be able to launch unopposed, if they are serious.
"Under-served fans"? I don't buy it.
Really weak looking effort.
NBA expansion will probably be a slow crawl too.
They apparently have very little done. Very little even adequately researched. After decades of ambition and lots of recent talk.
Others will do stuff, if they want, before NBA actually does anything meaningful, probably. The deadline to renew EuroLeague licenses will pass next summer. The touring league will be able to launch unopposed, if they are serious.
"Under-served fans"? I don't buy it.
Really weak looking effort.
NBA expansion will probably be a slow crawl too.
Re: European possibilities
Who will pay up to $500 million franchise fee? Who will even consider that before likely or locked in media revenues?
Cash straped existing franchisees? Middle East funds who buy more teams? Nobody?
Will they get even $100 million per team? Upfront or on installment?
Cash straped existing franchisees? Middle East funds who buy more teams? Nobody?
Will they get even $100 million per team? Upfront or on installment?