NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum provided further details on the format of the NBA Europe project, the potential European markets for the new league, and the recent meeting between FIBA, NBA, and EuroLeague representatives.
The NBA Europe project has been one of the main talking points in European basketball circles this year, with rumors about a potential new league launching in the coming years.
In a remote meeting with media from around the world ahead of the 2025 NBA Finals, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum shared additional details about the NBA's plans in Europe, also commenting on last week’s meeting between NBA, FIBA, and EuroLeague representatives.
"The meeting in Geneva was a great step. I am hopeful we will continue to make progress," Tatum said.
"For the first time, all the EuroLeague clubs with a permanent license were represented. The meetings with FIBA and EuroLeague were very productive, and we will continue to talk," he added.
Tatum also revealed some information about the potential format and cooperation with the FIBA Champions League, including teams potentially being promoted to the NBA Europe League.
"In the new top-tier league, we might get the two top teams from the Basketball Champions League to qualify, and hold a tournament for the remaining open spots," he revealed.
"The top two teams of the new league in the future may end up playing in the NBA Cup," Tatum added. "And when we have supersonic travel down the road, we might get a European division. So all this is very exciting."
Tatum also addressed the future role of teams from Eastern Europe and other regions competing in the new league.
"There’s a role in our league for teams from Eastern Europe. We want clubs from Serbia, Israel, Turkey, and Greece," he stated.
The NBA Deputy Commissioner also mentioned that preseason games between European teams and NBA teams might return in the future.
"If we operate a top-tier competition in Europe, then we will have a big incentive to bring this back," Tatum explained.
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