‘We must together find a solution’ with NBA, says Panathinaikos owner after rejected proposal
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Panathinaikos‘ Konstantinos Mitoglou in action during a Euroleague match against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Athens on Oct 2.
PHOTO: EPA
- - Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos said Europe’s clubs must “together find a solution” with the NBA after rejecting its proposal for a new continental league.
- - Euroleague shareholder clubs turned down the offer on Oct 6, but talks may continue and a revised NBA plan is still possible.
- - The rejection is a setback for NBA Europe, which plans a 16-team league in 2027, and raises uncertainty over Europe’s basketball future.
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BERLIN – Europe’s biggest basketball clubs must find a way to work with the NBA, Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos said on Oct 7, a day after they rejected a proposal from the US league to join up for a new continental competition.
On Oct 6, the continent’s top clubs turned down an offer from the NBA, raising the prospect of a battle for Europe’s teams, players and commercial riches.
The 13 EuroLeague shareholder clubs called the plan “unacceptable”, but added that they had not closed the door on future talks. At least one club at the meeting called the NBA plan “colonialist”.
In a social media post, Giannakopoulos said: “All together we have turned the sport we love into a competition where the NBA, I repeat, the NBA, the top league in the world, wants to invest and make EuroLeague a part of their world.
“With huge respect but also proud of what we have finally... achieved we must together find a solution.”
His Athens-based team are seven-time European champions and one of the EuroLeague heavyweights.
On Oct 8, the NBA and International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said they remain committed to building a league in Europe although their collaboration offer had been rejected.
The future of European basketball is in the balance, with the NBA saying it is keen to move forward with its NBA Europe project in 2027 whether a deal is reached or not.
“A partnership between the EuroLeague, FIBA and the NBA to unify the European basketball ecosystem would unlock the game’s enormous potential across Europe,” said a joint statement from the NBA and FIBA on Oct 8.
They added that they “remain committed to moving forward with a new professional men’s league in Europe and helping build a stronger, more sustainable basketball ecosystem”.
A senior sports executive told Reuters any collaboration was unlikely to begin before 2028 because it would be difficult to organise a new competition in time for the 2027-28 season.
Giannakopoulos said there were teams in Europe that were not interested in the growth of the sport.
“They still believe that success is how much money you lose at the end of the year. Basketball is not a rich boys (sic) toy,” he said. REUTERS, AFP