NBA to seek out teams for potential European league

PARIS – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and FIBA, the global governing body of basketball, announced on Dec 22 that they would begin prospecting for teams and owners as part of

their project of creating a pan-European men’s basketball league

.

The two bodies said in a statement they would “move forward in their joint exploration” of creating a new professional league in Europe by “engaging prospective teams and ownership groups in the process to join” in January.

Valuations for the permanent franchises could exceed US$1 billion (S$1.29 billion), according to CNBC, which reported that bankers from J.P. Morgan and the Raine Group have met at least 70 potential investors.

“Our conversations with various stakeholders in Europe have reinforced our belief that an enormous opportunity exists around the creation of a new league on the continent,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

“Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe.”

The statement offered further details of the format the league would take.

In addition to permanent spots, the league “would offer every team in a FIBA-affiliated domestic league in Europe a merit-based pathway to qualify on an annual basis either through FIBA’s Basketball Champions League or an end-of-season qualifying tournament”.

The season would also align with the current domestic league and national team schedules to allow players to represent both their clubs and national sides.

Furthermore, NBA and FIBA stated that as part of the new league, they would “dedicate financial support and resources to the continued development of Europe’s basketball ecosystem”.

This funding would include domestic leagues, club team academies and programmes to develop players, coaches and referees.

“Advancing further this joint NBA-FIBA project is great news for the European basketball community,” FIBA secretary-general Andreas Zagklis said.

“The project is conceived in a way that will improve the sustainability of the entire European basketball ecosystem, including players, clubs, leagues and national federations, by generating a knock-on effect that will strongly benefit basketball fans throughout Europe,” he added.

The NBA said more updates are expected to follow in the coming months. The league intends to receive non-binding ownership bids in January and hold a vote to green-light the league at the board of governors meeting in March, according to CNBC.

Meanwhile, in on-court action on Dec 22, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder got back to winning ways in the NBA with a 119-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander led the scoring to give the Thunder a morale-boosting victory after their 112-107 road defeat by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Dec 19.

“We weren’t at our best tonight but we did enough to win – but we’ve still got to get better,” he told NBC television.

Memphis flirted with an upset after starting brightly, taking an early seven-point lead in the first quarter before Oklahoma City took control in the second quarter.

The Thunder were also backed by 24 points from Jalen Williams, while Ajay Mitchell had 16 points off the bench.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s contribution, which included 10 rebounds and eight assists, extended an incredible scoring streak.

The Canadian star has now scored 20 points or more in 100 consecutive games, making him only the second player to achieve that feat, after Wilt Chamberlain.

“My teammates let me shoot whatever shots I want to out there,” said the 27-year-old guard.

“The coaching staff trust me and I put in the work to get better each and every day.”

The win improved Oklahoma City’s record to 26-3 at the top of the Western Conference standings. They play the second-placed San Antonio Spurs on Dec 23 (Dec 24, Singapore time).

In other games on Dec 22, the Denver Nuggets kept up their pursuit of Oklahoma City in the West with a comfortable 135-112 win over the Utah Jazz in Colorado.

The Nuggets, who have a 21-7 record, led from start to finish with Nikola Jokic grabbing 14 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for his 14th triple-double of the season and the 178th of his career.

Only Oscar Robertson (181) and Russell Westbrook (207) have scored more triple-doubles than the Denver star.

In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to three games with a 103-95 win over the Indiana Pacers. AFP, REUTERS