By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Over the past few years, the NBA has become more and more global, with three International players capturing the last five Regular Season MVPs and many other prominent figures within the league coming from outside the United States.
The NBA Commissioner Adam Silver obviously knows it, as the most attractive basketball league in the world has started to make connections in every part of the world, especially with the NBL in Australia and the BAL, empowering the movement in Africa.
Interviewed by San Antonio Spurs legendary playmaker Tony Parker, the 61-year-old touched on the relationship between the NBA and the EuroLeague, which has roots back before the XXI century. “We’ve had relationships with the EuroLeague since back the Dream Team around 1992, and honestly, I’ve been on the sidelines most recently, as the EuroLeague has tried to work through many different issues. I hope those issues will get resolved to make us able to create a stronger partnership going forward”, he first opened the conversation.
Later on, Adam Silver touched on basketball growing globally. “Great basketball being played everywhere is a benefit to anyone, and to our league. Certainly, these great club systems and strong support from sports ministries, by countries, haven’t impeded in any way and have supported the growth of great young players. It’s not an accident that [Nikola] Jokic, Luka [Doncic], or Giannis [Antetokounmpo] they’ve all played at a young age in programs that were supported in many cases either by a government or by a club. It’s a very different system than the United States”, the NBA Commissioner followed.
Moving forward, he said there will be more connection between the NBA and the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. “I think it’s important we continue to actively participate in all these different factors. But I wouldn’t only say for the NBA, partly because we’re an Ocean away, and the disputes going on within the EuroLeague are beyond us: it’s culturally different from what we’re experiencing. In many cases, I’d say: “Work it out and come to us when you’re ready”. So, I don’t think there’s any question we will be back in doing more with the EuroLeague at some point”, he finally stated.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images