“Our goal is not to replace the EuroLeague”: Mark Tatum on NBA Europe goals

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

In its first official reaction to the announcement of the potential creation of an NBA Europe league, EuroLeague Basketball characterized the move as a “threat to the long-standing traditions of European basketball,” adding that it may lead to a “fragmentation” of the sport in the continent.

NBA Deputy Comissioner Mark Tatum argued that what they are aiming for is a league that will try to maximize the commercial potential of basketball in Europe while also honoring the European basketball traditions.

“Our goal is not to replace the EuroLeague, ” Tatum said to Reuters. “Our goal is to create a commercialy viable league that features high quality on -court competition and respects the rich tradition of European basketball. And we think that that will better serve fans and players on the continent.”

Considering how basketball is the second-most popular sport in Europe after soccer, Tatum explained that the NBA is looking to capitalize on this to help the sport develop financially.

“There’s an opportunity to continue to accelerate the growth of basketball in Europe and to close the gap between the affinity for the game of basketball and the commercial viability of basketball in that market as well,” Tatum mentioned.

“There are big markets in Europe that aren’t being serviced today, where there are millions of basketball fans that aren’t being serviced,” Tatum added on cities like London, Paris, Berlin and Rome being among the candidates that NBA Europe considers as main targets to have an NBA Europe team.