By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Dimitris Itoudis, a two-time EuroLeague champion as the head coach of CSKA Moscow and president of EHCB, is a guest at the annual VTB Supercup in Russia.
During his stay, he discussed European basketball and the changes he would like to see in the EuroLeague.
“I dream of seeing the EuroLeague with 30 teams. Of course, that’s not something that can happen tomorrow. We’ve reached 18 teams, we’re going to 20, then 24, and I dream of that number 30 because that’s the number in the NBA. There are, of course, many things that need to be resolved. We need to talk to the people running the domestic leagues to establish cooperation and essentially create a way for those leagues to be like the G League in America, serving to develop players. Everyone agrees that the EuroLeague is the most competitive league, and the fans are proof of what is being watched and what interests them,“ Itoudis said to Mozzart Sport.
He gave examples of what he would like to see changed in the top continental competition.
“I have great respect for the Final Four. Thank God I’ve been to 14 or 15 final tournaments, and we’ve won titles, but I think it’s time to look toward the direction of a full playoff. Let a playoff series decide the champion. Unfortunately, in the EuroLeague, we have an excellent competition, but we have a three-dimensional championship. We start with the regular season where everyone plays each other, then we move to the NBA-style playoffs, and finally, we finish with the NCAA model called the Final Four. I think we need to be more specific, to have one system that brings more games, more fans, more TV broadcasts, and bigger TV rights. It’s also crucial to make decisions regarding budget changes. A minimum budget should be set, and then those budgets should grow and increase.”
Lastly, the Greek coach touched on his future in coaching. His last assignment was on the bench of Fenerbahce last season.
“My agent is handling that; it’s not something I’m rushing. There were talks during the summer, the cooperation didn’t happen, but it will in the future, and that’s that. What I’m proud of this summer is the big seminar in Athens with over 700 coaches. We’re trying, along with coaches, referees, and the entire EuroLeague, to learn and progress together,” Itoudis concluded.