By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu met with the press on the off-day of the Belgrade Final Four to discuss future plans for the competition. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the CEO position and his future in EuroLeague Basketball, Bertomeu is “very calm” and the conversation quickly shifted to the recent presence of Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant in two of the playoffs games between Olympiacos and Monaco.
“Kevin Durant watched two games of the Euroleague playoffs because of the personal relationship he had with a player of Monaco [Mike James] and he enjoyed it”, said the EuroLeague CEO. “Especially in the second game in Piraeus, he had the full Euroleague experience.”
“Full experience” may be an understatement, as Durant was shocked with the reaction of Olympiacos’ fans after sealing a ticket to this year’s Final Four, posting videos from the pandemonium and the celebrations at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Game 5.
The EuroLeague playoffs and especially the Final Four in the Serbian capital have of course drawn the attention of European players currently in the NBA, with Luka Doncic and Bogdan Bogdanovic avidly supporting the action and the exciting games that took place Thursday evening.
Such a lucrative product of course has trusted partners and Bertomeu commented on EuroLeague’s long-term partnership with IMG.
“IMG is committed to the EuroLeague,” he said. “We are happy with the cooperation and we will have a future with them”.