Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez emphasized the importance of preserving European basketball’s identity as the NBA and FIBA explore a new European league.
Brooklyn Nets NBA coach Jordi Fernandez said Saturday that the creation of a new league in Europe jointly by the NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) should preserve the identity of European basketball.
"The identity of European basketball is very important, just as the identity of basketball is here (in the United States). It's something that can't be lost," the Badalona native said during a press conference in Washington.
"Both styles of basketball are excellent, and maintaining them is important. But also evolving them and doing new things," he added.
Fernandez, who has been working in the NBA since 2009, said the project to create a new league in Europe "is interesting for everyone" and "very attractive," but emphasized that it must be done through "collaboration."
"The ideal scenario is with everyone sitting at the table and creating what's best for the fans," he said.
"Let everyone sit at the table and together we can create the best possible league for the benefit of the fans, so they can see a better product than the one we have now," he added.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced during a press conference on Thursday that the NBA is exploring the creation of a league in Europe alongside FIBA.
Silver said the project is in the exploratory phase, but assured that NBA owners are ready for the next step.
The NBA's initial idea is a competition with 16 teams, twelve of which would be permanent.
No names were given of teams that might be interested in joining the competition, nor was it known whether or not they belong to the Euroleague, a competition that has been at odds with FIBA for years.
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