Ettore Messina on NBA’s European project: “It looks interesting”

By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net

Today was one of those potentially historic days for European basketball, as NBA commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis announced during the NBA Board of Governors press conference the project of a new European league with 16 participating teams.

Following the EuroLeague Round 32 game against Barcelona, Milano’s head coach Ettore Messina was asked about this opportunity, following Adam Silver’s public announcement.

“It looks like an interesting project. It will be important to figure out what role the EuroLeague will play. I don’t want to fantasize too much, but it looks impossible to have a league created by the NBA and FIBA with 16 teams, all being diverse than the ones who are playing in the EuroLeague,” he opened.

“Certainly, there will be teams that have already been contacted, or will be contacted, to participate in this new league. At that point, it’s a matter of what teams and the EuroLeague will decide, and whether there will be a communication channel among EuroLeague, NBA, and FIBA.”

“This declaration by [Adam] Silver means that they had the green light from the owners, who are the ones deciding on a feasibility study. If he said that, it means that the vote in New York moved in a specific direction. Let’s see what will happen in the upcoming days,” Messina concluded.

In November, the experienced Italian head coach had interesting thoughts about the future of European basketball, discussing the danger of having two rival leagues in an exclusive interview with Eurohoops.

PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

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