The latest from reactions to the NBA Europe project by Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas
By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
With the partnership between FIBA and the NBA, widely labeled as NBA Europe, looking to create a new top-tier European League and aiming to launch in 2027, Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas shared his opinion on the latest developments.
“The NBA has been announcing and announcing things for a year, but still it’s nothing that you can grasp on,” said the 44-year-old Lithuanian native in an interview with The Associated Press.
“As businessmen, these are team owners, they also begin to see it’s a little bit of a broken record of ‘we will announce later,’ … The ’27 start is already around the corner,” he added. “We’ve only heard the plan or the fireworks of how amazing it will be, how much potential there is. But having a theory is one, and making it work is two.”
“We’ve been here for 26 years. We know how Europe functions,” he stressed on Euroleague Basketball operating the top-tier European League this century.
With FC Barcelona and Fenerbahce Beko recently relaying commitment toward new ten-year licenses to continue playing in the EuroLeague, as reported by Eurohoops, Motiejunas is confident all permanent clubs will eventually stay on board.
“It’s a big deal, of course. It’s an important brand, and we’re happy that they committed,” he confirmed about Barca.
Following the current deals lasting until June 30, the new long-term licenses for permanent clubs also include exit clauses much more streamlined, with the opt-out fee much higher than the previously set ten million euros.
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