By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
May is the month to live in European basketball. It’s when things come to an end and plans for the future start to take place. Both in Belgrade for the Basketball Champions League Final Four and in Berlin for the EuroLeague Final Four, representatives from FIBA and ECA shared some updates.
Both BCL CEO Patrick Comninos and EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas indeed talked about the potential merging of the BKT EuroCup and the Basketball Champions League into a single and more competitive unity, becoming the second-best competition in Europe behind the EuroLeague.
Now, talking to AS, the FIBA Europe president addressed the topic, confirming rumors. “There is one thing we cannot lose sight of, which is the players. When you see calendars with entire seasons where players go for 90 or even 100 games, it is a mistake. Do I see it as feasible? Yeah. Soon? Well, it costs me a little more. For next season it is very complicated”, he first said.
Despite being doubtful about it immediately taking shape, he remains optimistic. “We are working on it. The important thing is that meetings continue to be held and we speak in a good climate of collaboration and doors continue to be kept open. For now and unfortunately, only negotiation. But while you negotiate you always have opportunities to find a solution”, Jorge Garbajosa continued.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images