EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno admitted that talks with the NBA remain far from an agreement, warning that a standalone NBA Europe project would face major execution and reputational risks without EuroLeague's established clubs, markets, and fan bases.
EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno admitted that the competition and the NBA remain far from reaching an agreement over the future of European basketball, while warning that launching NBA Europe without EuroLeague would involve significant risks.
EuroLeague and the NBA have continued exploring whether their competing projects can be combined, but Bueno acknowledged that the two sides currently have significantly different visions.
Speaking on the StreamTime Sports Podcast, Bueno explained that both organizations would need to alter their proposed models before a partnership could become realistic.
"I think that if I had come earlier, we would not have today two models that are very different. So let's be honest, they have a model that does not match our model, or our model does not match their model; we both have to make changes," Bueno said.
"And I think that the goal is: how we're going to do it in a way that we both win. And I think that realistically speaking, we're not there yet. And we need to sit down more times and more time to think about this."
Bueno rejects one-sided NBA Europe scenario
Despite the distance between the sides, Bueno did not rule out an eventual partnership. However, he stressed that both EuroLeague and the NBA would need to make concessions.
The EuroLeague executive rejected a potential scenario in which the existing competition would be expected to abandon its project and simply join the NBA's proposed franchise model.
"We have to both be generous in the approach. If they're saying 'Okay, come to me and shut it down and come to my franchise model,' then it's not our work. So we both have to be flexible," Bueno said.
Credit David Grau/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
Bueno believes the NBA's preferred approach should have been to partner with EuroLeague before attempting to attract investors and establish new franchises in European cities.
According to Bueno, working with EuroLeague would immediately provide the project with established clubs, fan bases, markets and a proven track record.
"For me, the right approach would have been to do a deal with the EuroLeague and then go to the market and find more money to go. Because you have certainty, you have the biggest IPs, the biggest clubs, the biggest fan base, the biggest cities," he explained.
"And then you show the market and investors certainty, a track record. Already the baseline is huge because you have the best of the best. And how you go from there and how can they support it as well. For me, that would be the best path."
NBA Europe could face execution and reputational risks
Bueno also questioned the viability of the NBA launching a new European competition without the continent's leading basketball clubs.
The EuroLeague CEO acknowledged that he had not reviewed the NBA project's complete financial information but argued that building a competition independently would create considerably more uncertainty.
"Well, I haven't been in the data room, let me start by saying that. I don't have access to these numbers," Bueno clarified.
"On the contrary, I would say that coming along for me has much more risk, much more uncertainty. They don't know the teams, they don't have the cities. They say the cities that they want, they don't have the fan base in some cities.”
"I think it's very risky, and execution risk and reputational risk are on the table. So I would avoid that. And that's what we both know: it would be better for both sides, not for only one side," he added.
Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
Bueno's argument is based primarily on the infrastructure EuroLeague already possesses after 26 years of operation.
While the NBA has considerable financial resources and commercial expertise, EuroLeague already features many of Europe's strongest basketball brands, established audiences and relationships with local markets.
The CEO proposed building a joint competition around EuroLeague's 13 long-term licensed clubs before adding several franchises in markets where the competition does not currently have an established team.
"For me, it would be easier if we have 13 teams, we add 5-6 markets that they are talking about where we don't have teams, whether it's Manchester, Lyon, Berlin, or Rome, and we add those teams to the existing franchises," Bueno said. "They become franchises; we're already doing that. And then we have these 13 teams, plus these five, six markets."
"We can still do that. We can still do a partnership and then complement this with the cities that there is not an existing EuroLeague," he continued.
Bueno warns against fragmentation
Bueno warned that failure to find common ground could result in EuroLeague and NBA Europe competing directly for clubs, investors, broadcasters and supporters.
Although he said EuroLeague would be prepared to compete if necessary, he believes creating two rival competitions would damage the wider European basketball market.
"If we had two leagues, yes, we have to compete. Fine, we will. But it's going to be fragmentation in the market, and fragmentation not only dilutes value, but fragmentation also creates destruction," Bueno said.
"And when we're competing, you know that things are going to happen that you're not going to like."
Credit Euroleague Basketball
Bueno nevertheless maintained that both organizations have a responsibility to continue exploring an agreement before committing to a direct battle.
"And if we can avoid this fragmentation and destruction, I think that is my responsibility, their responsibility as executives that are defending and protecting the interest of a lot of owners, investors, partners, and TV partners, to explore what it would be the best way for everyone," he said.
"At least to try it. And if at the end we have to compete, we have to compete."
[
Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.](https://basketnews.com/plus?utm_source=basketnews_com&utm_medium=bn_plus&utm_id=UA-259273-31&utm_campaign=banners_free_content_for_not_members_bottom_3)
If you like our content, please and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest basketball news.