Jordi Bertomeu criticizes NBA Europe franchise valuations

Former Euroleague president Jordi Bertomeu has criticized the reported financial requirements for the NBA to establish a presence in Europe. Speaking to the European Basketball Advisory Group (EBAG), Bertomeu addressed scenarios where the NBA might demand between $500 million and $1 billion per franchise to join a new European league.

Bertomeu stated that these valuations “do not correspond to the reality of basketball in Europe.” He noted that such high costs would likely force a complete replacement of current club owners with new investors, as existing clubs lack the capacity to meet such valuations. He also expressed uncertainty regarding whether football clubs would be willing to make such massive investments in their basketball departments, citing the volatility and uncertainty of the sports industry.

Regarding market expansion, Bertomeu noted that the Euroleague has historically attempted to move beyond traditional markets, citing previous efforts in London, Turkey, and Germany.