NBA Europe proposes two-tier competition model

NBA Europe is proposing a new two-tier competition structure designed to address the fragmentation of the European basketball ecosystem. According to Giorgos Aivazoglou, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East at the NBA, the goal is to create a more cohesive market.

The proposed model features NBA Europe as a semi-open, top-tier competition with a core group of clubs receiving protected or guaranteed participation for several seasons to ensure economic stability. This would be complemented by the Basketball Champions League (BCL), which would function as a fully open tier based on sporting merit and domestic league performance.

Aivazoglou noted that while the European sports market generates up to $50 billion annually, basketball accounts for less than 0.5% of that revenue. He attributed this disparity to structural divisions and a fragmented ecosystem that has persisted for twenty-five years. To address this, the NBA is collaborating with FIBA to develop a unified platform. Discussions are ongoing with EuroLeague clubs, with significant announcements expected in the coming weeks.