George Aivazoglou, NBA Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East, expressed criticism of the EuroLeague's structure on Thursday, asserting that European basketball has not reached its potential under its current system. He made these comments during Leaders Week London, two days after EuroLeague clubs rejected the NBA’s initial proposal for a collaborative effort.
Read More
Aivazoglou pointed out that the current EuroLeague model restricts domestic champions from participating, while clubs with poor domestic performance retain their spots in the league. He stated, “We’re moving ahead with our plans for a launch next year.”
The NBA aims to establish a unified European basketball framework, which includes a fully open second-tier competition. The proposed tournament would begin with 16 teams: 12 permanent franchises and four additional teams qualifying each year from domestic leagues or a secondary European competition.
Aivazoglou emphasized the importance of engaging with all stakeholders who support a shared vision for the future of European basketball. He highlighted that the new competition must resonate with long-term European basketball fans while also expanding its appeal to a broader audience, stating that it “needs to respect those traditions, but also attract more people than it does today.” He added that if the initiative were perceived as forced or foreign, it would not succeed, stressing the importance of authenticity and deep-rooted fan support in the endeavor.