NBA and FIBA's response to the EuroLeague's no: NBA Europe moves forward
Both bodies issue a statement following the decision of the EuroLeague General Assembly
The NBA and FIBA broke their silence after the Euroleague General Assembly at Lake Como and the rejection by the 13 owner teams of an offer to achieve a united front.
NBA and FIBA issued a statement this Thursday in response to that decision in which, above all, it is clear that both entities will move forward with the NBA Europe project with or without the EuroLeague . Although the idea of the 13 teams is to continue negotiating , NBA and FIBA state in their statement that " they remain committed to moving forward with a new men's professional league in Europe ".
'Although the statement is clear, it also mentions that the ideal scenario would be an agreement among the three parties to " unify the European basketball ecosystem ".'
At Lake Como, the teams rejected the NBA's offer , but even though some teams wanted to stop negotiating, the majority leaned toward continuing to listen to the other side and keeping the path of negotiation open. This is the full statement from the NBA and FIBA:
"A partnership among the EuroLeague, FIBA, and the NBA to unify the European basketball ecosystem would unlock the enormous potential of the game across Europe for the benefit of clubs, players, and, most importantly, fans. The NBA and FIBA remain committed to moving forward with a new professional men's league in Europe and helping to build a stronger and more sustainable basketball ecosystem together with partners who share our vision of growth, opportunity, and the fundamental principles of the European sports model".
