By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Interviewed by AS, the president, chairman and CEO of Euroleague Basketball Company Jordi Bertomeu discussed many aspects of European basketball from EuroLeague to the domestic competitions and the National Team tournaments. He initially pointed out: “You can’t compare basketball to other sports, because NBA is clearly on top.”
The 2018-19 EuroLeague field will feature 18 clubs and will conclude one week later. The Pre-Olympic tournament will closely follow, but Bertomeu proposed: “We can avoid any scheduling problems by assigning Olympic Games’ spots directly from EuroBasket and the rest of the continental tournaments” and added: “The Pre-Olympic tournament was created so FIBA can earn money with players that are paid by their clubs.”
Answering a question about EuroLeague’s expansion affecting ACB’s and other national league’s yearly schedules, he explained: “The number of teams in the ACB in combination with EuroLeague’s expansion brings an almost unique problem. It doesn’t affect other countries.”
Bertomeu also said: “We don’t intend to create a closed tournament. We want every team able to play and win. We want to create a European pyramid system with promotions and relegations between EuroLeague and EuroCup. without fixed licenses.”
“Its important for any business to limit the risks. We are here for the business and to grow we need stability, strong teams, medium-term investments and technological development” he mentioned as well and added: “That would be impossible with a bunch of new teams in the EuroLeague every year. We can keep a team that goes well, but we can’t start from scratch every season.”
He continued: “EuroLeague is interested in teams playing in their countries. We don’t have the university system the United States use. The domestic competitions are the territorial and formative base of basketball. We believe in the national competitions and that EuroLeague with 18 clubs can fit in the yearly calendar. We don’t consider possible our competition with 24 teams. We’re committed to quality, which doesn’t go hand in hand with increasing EuroLeague participants.”
On the number of territories and countries included in EuroLeague, he said: “We are interested in expanding into different territories. Balkans and Lithuania are fundamental. These countries produce talents that we can’t renounce. We have to strengthen Germany, France, Italy and Britain.”
On the conflict with FIBA and its schedule, he pointed out: “We don’t feel like the winners of the situation. When something goes wrong, it doesn’t make us happy. However, it seems like we are the only side that believes something is really wrong. FIBA believes the windows made a positive contribution.”
And further explained: “Eight months of club competitions and then the National Teams in June and July, 45 days of vacation and then the start of the next season with 15 days of preseason and every player available. We have studied when injuries occur in EuroLeague and 60% of the most severe ones happen in October and November after National Team tournaments. FIBA has made some correct decisions like changing the schedule on big tournaments to not coincide with football tournaments and that’s why I think we can take more advantage of July.”
Additionally on the Spanish League, he mentioned: “ACB shouldn’t be a priority, but the young players that need a division to compete. For example, there are even fewer Spaniards in lower divisions. EuroLeague loses players every year that move to the NBA ahead of their time without completely maturing. We don’t give up, but continue working.”