By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Paulius Motiejunas was presented last summer as a candidate CEO for the EuroLeague. However, the 13 clubs-shareholders needed a year – which was practically lost – to give him the lead, naming him the acting CEO for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
With Marshall Glickman officially stepping down the clubs needed an urgent solution and that’s why they decided in favor of a formula they opted against last summer. That’s giving the role of the competition CEO to a club executive.
This creates a de-facto conflict of interests, however, Motiejunas has won the trust of the rest of the clubs, plus as he said in his Eurohoops interview a few weeks ago about the recent changes in the EuroLeague: “What I really feel is that we as clubs are getting more involved and what is better now is that we are communicating much better between ourselves and this is key”.
Remember that in theory, Motiejunas should step down from his position at the end of next season. That will happen for sure if the EuroLeague shareholders decide to use the next months in order to recruit a CEO who will take the position in the long run, using a typical interview process.
Of course, if Motiejunas proves to be the right man for the job, it’s possible that he will keep his position, further distancing himself from Zalgiris Kaunas.
The expansion
The main challenge that right now the EuroLeague and of course, Motiejunas must tackle is the expansion talks. In theory, those issues should have been decided by April, or at least a pathway should have been defined.
Time is of the essence if the EuroLeague wants to expand by the summer of 2024 when this might be inevitable if the Russian clubs return to the competition. And that’s the biggest priority for everyone right now. Also, the delay in those decisions was the money issue that provoked the CEO’s change.
Motiejunas is clearly in favor of the EuroLeague’s expansion to Dubai – as he stated beyond any doubt to Eurohoops – and this is one of the main decisions that the EuroLeague must take sooner than later.
Under Glickman, Paris and London seemed to be priorities but that’s not necessarily the case.
Of course, the main task of the EuroLeague CEO and also of the EuroLeague president, since Dejan Bodiroga remains in power, is to align all 13 shareholders to a common interest.
That’s not always as easy as it looks, but with Dubai opening up a slate of huge potential it seems like a no-brainer at this point.
Motiejunas and Bodiroga will have one season to make things happen and this is the biggest bet for both. For next season, expect only slight changes both in the EuroLeague and the EuroCup, but with Dubai calling, the IMG joint venture expiring in 2026, ongoing contacts with FIBA, and three new markets (Dubai, London, Paris) knocking on the door, the upcoming months will be equally interesting off the court for the competition.