By Manos Firogenis/ info@eurohoops.net
There has been a lot of talk about the ambitious basketball project in England, with the London Lions potentially joining the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Amid uncertainty surrounding the next season in the top continental competition, London Lions’ assistant GM, Jason Tranos, explained that there’s only one way for them to join the EuroLeague.
“The only way to enter the EuroLeague is to win the EuroCup“, Tranos said to Eurohoops. “There is nothing promised by the EuroLeague, as it had been rumored in the previous months. In any case, that we will be given wild cards with Paris. All these rumors don’t have to do with reality at the moment we speak. There are no agreements or winks; there is nothing hidden. If you want to enter the EuroLeague, you have to win the EuroCup. It’s simple. And we have a team that could go all the way. Paris too, or Besiktas, the title holder Gran Canaria, or Hapoel. The EuroCup has 20 teams, of which 8 can become champions.”
The London Lions are progressing well toward their goal, improving after their debut in the EuroCup last season. They are currently sitting third in the Group A standings with a 9-4 record after 13 regular-season rounds, boasting names like Gabe Olaseni, Matt Morgan, and Sam Decker in their ranks. However, there are many more steps on the way.
“It is very difficult for us to enter the EuroLeague immediately. If Virtus makes it to the playoffs this year, which seems likely, there is only room for one addition from the EuroCup, which will go to the EuroCup winner, so you have to go and win it. Valencia is a peculiar case that has made a huge investment in the arena, spending 200 million on it. The goal is to make London a basketball beacon in Europe.”
Tranos believes that markets like London and Paris could be very beneficial to the EuroLeague.
“Markets like London and Paris are needed; the European structure needs them, and we are delighted to be somewhere in that mix. The investment of the owners in Lions and British basketball has nothing to do with the entire Dubai project or Paris. They identified a business gap in the English market and decided to enter.
In his opinion, the EuroLeague is at a crucial turning point.
“We are at a inflection point. David Blatt used to say that all vacumes get filled; no gap remains uncovered. Certain capital markets need to be found, which may not be traditional powers but will bring in money like Paris or London. Some strategic models need to be found that will enhance the quality.”
He adds that English and French clubs could bring a lot to the table, emphasizing that Paris is ready to join the EuroLeague.
“Sky Sports, BT Sport, Skweek, L’Equipe. All these French and English media bring a new breeze, a blossoming, enlarge the pie, and we are happy to be at the center of it. We won’t enter the EuroLeague at this moment unless we win the trophy. We are in the phase of finding talents, investing in facilities and courts, and becoming more attractive. Our goal is to bring a product of utmost professional standards in the UK“, London Lions assistant GM Jason Tranos concluded.