NBA proposal aims to absorb and extinguish EuroLeague

Makis Angelopoulos, owner of AEK Athens, has revealed a formal proposal from the NBA to the EuroLeague that involves a merger and subsequent absorption of the current European competition. According to Angelopoulos, this plan would lead to the extinction of the EuroLeague, with participating teams transitioning to the Basketball Champions League (BCL).

Angelopoulos criticized the current EuroLeague economic model, describing it as a form of “unfair competition” in Europe. He noted a significant disparity in television rights revenue between EuroLeague shareholders and other teams. He also alleged that previous attempts by the EuroLeague to restructure game schedules for financial gain were unsuccessful.

In contrast, the NBA proposal reportedly offers a different commercial structure. The plan suggests a model where teams would have two paths—the BCL and national championships—with all teams receiving equal payments. The NBA would reportedly grant 12 licenses initially, increasing to 18 over a six-year period. Angelopoulos cautioned that such a transition would not be feasible within a single year and could potentially delay investments.