By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
With many things moving in the EuroLeague, issues like Dubai, and of course the long-standing debate with FIBA about the in-season windows both sides will be able to meet, at least socially, on the sidelines of the NBA Paris Game.
For the first time since its inception, the NBA regular season game in Europe which returned for the first time after 2020 due to COVID, has emerged as a place where deals will be brokered and the top European stakeholders of the sports are present.
EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga, CEO Marshall Glikman, and other members of the top management, plus FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis and FIBA’s top executives are in the city and already crossed paths in today’s NBA reception.
While there’s no confirmation about a meeting between all three sides with a specific agenda, like the one back in September 2021, it’s evident that everyone understands that some kind of collaboration between all stakeholders should happen in favor of the sport.
This spirit was evident in the discussion panel between NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio. The main issue was the presentation of the NBPA partnership with local tech company “Sorare” which specializes in fantasy games.
But as Silver said, talking about the landscape of global basketball and especially the situation in France and Europe: “We recognize that the two largest sports are soccer and basketball, but soccer is bigger than basketball right now. So we see an enormous opportunity to close that gap”.