Partizan head coach Zeljko Obradovic and EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga shared their views on the future of the EuroLeague and stressed the importance of protecting European basketball.
In the EuroLeague opening press conference ahead of the Final Four, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade head coach Zeljko Obradovic and EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga shared their thoughts on the future of the league.
Obradovic emphasized that the EuroLeague is a globally recognized competition, with the NBA's interest in coming to Europe serving as clear evidence of that.
"I believe that we have great competition, and I'm sure that everybody works in that way to be even better," Obradovic said.
"Fans are more important. EuroLeague is a competition that everybody all over the world recognizes. The proof is that we have an NBA that is very interested to come over here," he added.
Credit ABA League/Dragana Stjepanovic
The coach also addressed the growing speculation surrounding the NBA’s interest in Europe and underlined the importance of protecting what the EuroLeague has built.
"So for some reason, they want to be over here. Rumors, a lot of rumors we have. I don't know what is true or what is not true, but we need to protect ourselves and we need to have a league that everybody understands that it is the best basketball over here in Europe. And let's work in that way, everybody together," the legendary coach stated.
EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga echoed Obradovic's thoughts, highlighting the need to protect what makes the EuroLeague unique.
"I agree with the coach," Bodiroga said. "I think that we need to protect what makes us special."
"When we are talking about every game matters, we are strong. We have the most passionate fans, we have the most competitive games, we have a really rich tradition. And I think that we need to keep this," he noted.
Bodiroga pointed out that one of the key areas where the EuroLeague must evolve is expansion, emphasizing the importance of reaching a wider audience.
"Maybe what we need to change is the ability to share this unique product with the world, because I think that this is how to protect, grow, and expand in the future," Bodiroga concluded.
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