By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The chairman of Euroleague Basketball Dejan Bodiroga was hosted by FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis in Geneva. Euroleague Basketball acting CEO Marshall Glickman also attended the meeting.
The topics of the discussion likely included scheduling conflicts between FIBA’s winter international windows and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.
Considering one single meeting extremely limited space to work toward solutions in issues created over so many years, no news actually being good news can be the case.
Skipping the gathering in Madrid between FIBA, Euroleague Basketball, and the NBA in 2021, this was the first formal meeting in many years and also direct without the NBA on the table. Meeting in a good atmosphere, the relationship between Euroleague Basketball and FIBA can enter a new era with an approach significantly varying from the multiple issues of previous years. It remains to be seen if this was a good start toward joint decisions or efforts in the future.
Zagklis, 42, was appointed secretary general in 2018. Last week, the FIBA Central Board unanimously approved the extension of his contract until 2031. In 2016, he was named Director of Legal Services and General Counsel after working with FIBA for nine years as its external legal advisor.
Bodiroga, 49, became the successor of Jordi Bertomeu as the new chairman of Euroleague Basketball last May. Coming in, the EuroLeague legend with several links to FIBA was widely expected to focus on the relationship with the international basketball federation, beyond regular duties.