FIBA Europe president Jorge Garbajosa has reiterated that the NBA Europe project will proceed even if ongoing efforts to reach an agreement with EuroLeague prove unsuccessful.
Although FIBA would prefer a unified approach involving all three organizations, Garbajosa confirmed that the NBA and FIBA have their own plans for the competition, which is scheduled to begin in October 2027.
“About the EuroLeague, they are making their own decisions,” Garbajosa said. “Of course, I think everybody’s on the same page. Everybody wants a common, three-party agreement. It would be best if it’s doable.”
The Spanish executive also expressed dissatisfaction with EuroLeague’s decision to introduce a separate Super Cup, questioning whether the initiative benefits European basketball as a whole.
“Honestly, let me say, the Super Cups of the national league are extremely great tournaments and traditional tournaments for many years. And now suddenly they create a Super Cup for the benefit of a few teams or a few clubs in Europe that are playing in the Middle East. So these things don’t help.
“But at the same time, as Mr. Silver said, and Mr. Tatum said many times, and also Mr. Bodiroga, we would like to have an agreement that benefits every club in Europe.”
Addressing reported discussions between the NBA and EuroLeague, Garbajosa clarified that FIBA is not directly involved in those negotiations but has repeatedly offered to bring the organizations together.
“We are not [a part] of this [discussion]; this is a bilateral negotiation between them, but as FIBA and FIBA Europe, of course, we had invited [them] to the House of Basketball [global headquarters based in Mies, Switzerland],” Garbajosa said.
“I’m talking on behalf of the Secretary General and the President, of course. But we have already invited them three times, both ECA and NBA, to try to, as Kamil said, put the distance between both organizations as close as we can.
“But the negotiation is between them. Of course, we always want to be part of the solution, never part of the problem.”
Nevertheless, Garbajosa stressed that an agreement is not a prerequisite for the new competition.
“At the same time, as Mr. Silver said, an agreement would be great,” he said. “If not, we have our own plans to create. We had an extremely positive response from the market in Europe, above the expectations of everyone at the table. So an agreement would be nice. If not, we will go on with our program together with the NBA.
“And our goal is quite clear. It’s to move European basketball forward. I think we are the leading continent in many aspects.”
