NBA and basketball’s governing body FIBA are looking to start a new European League.
The plans are for a 16-team set up alongside 12 permanent sides with a further four qualifying each year, matches will last 48 minutes.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver says “we feel now is the time to move to the next stage, basketball is the 2nd biggest sport in Europe.” Announced on Sky Sports News
The two organisations will work together on the new league with secretary general of governing body FIBA (Federal International Basketball Association) Andreas Zagklis speaking that there was a unanimous vote among FIBA’s board of directors to proceed with the plans.
“Hundreds of millions of fans and roughly 15 per cent of the players in the NBA right now are from Europe. Five out of the last six of our MVPs have been European”, Silver added. Announced on ESPN
One of the new faces of the NBA is Serbian Center Nikola Jokic, who has won the last three out of the six MVPs.
European teams compete in the EuroLeague which has been ran by EuroLeague basketball since 2000 but was founded in 1967 by FIBA.
Zagklis added: “Coming out of the most successful World Cup and Olympics ever, we also believe it is the right time to take the next step for club basketball.”
Will this league be necessary, and last in Europe?
