By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Fasoulas, who is also counselor of the Greek basketball federation explained his position: “We have to consider that basketball is not only a commercial product. We have to put in our minds where we want to go in the future What is our goal. NBA officials have already admited in the past, that the dynamic of the NBA has been excelled because of the USA National Team. Europe is consisted from 30 different nations. Has nothing to do with nationalism: The citizens of a country wants to see their national team competes with other countries. National Teams promotes basketball. They sould have more games during the season. Greek national teams has more than 8 years to play an official home game in front of its crowd”.
He also believes that players want to be part of their national team: “Meanwhile, players knows that playing for the national team, is something that raise their value and their public profile. They love to play for the national team. Look the examples of Gasol, Nowitzki or Giannis Antetokounmpo. Why are they so beloved? Why Giannis feels the love of anybody in Greece? Is it only NBA? NBA of course is crucial factor. But the main reason is because they played or play for their National Teams. There is no doubt that Giannis would be an icon anyway. But imagine what could maybe happen if he never played for the national team… Former NBA commissioner David Stern has said that one of the reasons that NBA attracted the worldwide interest and raised the ratings, is the participation of the Dream Team in the Olympic Games of 1992”.
According to Fasoulas EuroLeague and FIBA must find some common ground: “There is no doubt that EuroLeague created a very attractive competition. And they deserve a hats off! EuroLeague is an amazing championship, very competitive. Basketball is not just commercial product though. In Europe we have different philosophies of basketball. Each country has its own. Those countries face on another in a basketball competition to give joy to the fans. Obviously there are ways to reach to a solution. Like what happened in the past between FIBA and Euroleague. Is it possible to be in this situations for 4-5 days during the season? Are we serious? I thing that FIBA took a decision for the good of basketball. It’s on the right direction. They want to bring national teams closer to the society. Of course it’s good. I do not understand who is the person who decline something like that and wants to stop it?”
And of course, the players should not be caught in the middle, as Fasoulas explains: “It’s totaly immoral to give the responsibility of the decision to the players… It’s not their decision. It can’t be their decision to say if they play for their clubs or for their national teams. We must understand that our goal is to make basketball a popular sport, beloved in any single country. You see? Now we are talking about the Eurobasket… Why? Because it’s the national teams who competes there. It attracts the interest. Tell me… Why Divac send this letter to the players around the world? Is there something that he can get personally from that? To have a profit? No! Nothing! He did it because he knows that we love the game in Europe and everybody around the world must fall in love with it. And believe we are not gonna create a love link with basketball watching only the club competitions.