Armani Olimpia Milan general manager Christos Stavropoulos believes cooperation between EuroLeague and the NBA would be the preferred outcome for European basketball, but says EuroLeague has its own plans if an agreement cannot be reached.
Speaking during a media session, Stavropoulos again raised concerns about the possibility of another major competition entering Europe and dividing the existing basketball market.
“When you add another competition, there’s fragmentation. For me, I’ve said it a thousand times, it would be ideal to collaborate with the NBA. But that’s not a given,” he stated.
Despite his preference for cooperation, Stavropoulos stressed that EuroLeague is already preparing for its next stage of development, including expansion and a potential franchise system.
“If it doesn’t happen, we in the EuroLeague certainly already have clear ideas for the future. You’ve heard about the franchises, the increase in teams,” he confirmed. “Basketball in Europe is growing tremendously. EuroLeague is growing.”
Interest from clubs seeking to become part of the competition has also increased, with Stavropoulos revealing that at least 11 teams have formally applied for franchises.
“The next few years will be very important. There are so many teams that want to join. Eleven teams have applied for a franchise, and there are more,” he added.
“The board will soon make decisions about the future. There’s no news on the NBA at the moment. If the future isn’t with them, so be it. We already have our way. We already know it.”
