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Discussions are ongoing, and Bueno confirmed on LinkedIn that he has presented a new plan to the EuroLeague A-license owners, hoping for their approval.
"It's been less than two months since I became EuroLeague CEO, and I can already say it's been a fascinating journey. This is a pivotal moment for European basketball, in a very complex situation – we all know that. But it's also a privilege for someone who loves sports and basketball to be part of the conversation about how to fix things," said Ćus Bueno.
He further added:
"At our first EuroLeague board meeting, we presented our plan to the clubs on how to develop the league and increase the value of clubs as assets (moving to a franchise model to achieve this), how to improve operations in areas we identified as opportunities (expansion into new markets, new products, and developing our own digital platform for better fan interaction), and how to better manage the basketball ecosystem. The Board of Directors supported our ideas and gave us the green light to implement them. The EuroLeague has an excellent three-year business growth plan."
What is Ćus Bueno's plan?
Ćus Bueno's vision is for the EuroLeague and NBA to organize a joint competition.
"Regarding the ecosystem, you've likely seen in recent weeks that the NBA is raising capital to enter Europe, with FIBA's support, and we've all stated that we are open to exploring a potential partnership. It's still early to see if this is feasible and what it would look like – we all know it's not easy, and we (the basketball stakeholders) haven't managed to achieve it yet. But I believe we can all agree that fragmentation dilutes value and creates tensions (not just among institutions, but also in media coverage, market penetration, sponsorships, and even among fans who support one league or concept over another). That's why I said that if the NBA raises capital and decides to come and invest time and resources in Europe, we (the EuroLeague and its clubs) should be open to discussing how we can develop the game and business together, for everyone's benefit," stated Ćus Bueno.
How are the negotiations progressing?
Ćus Bueno confirmed that negotiations are moving in a positive direction:
"NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said it would be better to find an agreement with the EuroLeague, at his last press conference a few weeks ago," Ćus Bueno recalled.
"I spent almost 13 years in the NBA and know Adam Silver, Mark Tatum, and George Aivazoglou well. I have great personal and professional respect for my former colleagues – and they know that. I know what the NBA brings in terms of game, product, marketing, commercial aspects, operations, brand, etc. We (the EuroLeague side) have the best European clubs, the biggest basketball cities, and the largest fan base in Europe, with decades of tradition. If they truly come, we should explore how to maximize this opportunity. We will all defend the best interests of our clubs, owners, capital, etc. But there is trust among us to have honest conversations, sometimes critical, and we will undoubtedly disagree on some things. Nevertheless, we must find the best solution for everyone together. European basketball is too important and deserves a great future. I look forward to it," Ćus Bueno concluded.
What would the NBA EuroLeague look like?
Ćus Bueno explained how the new competition should be structured:
"If we do this, it will be with at least 22 teams. Otherwise, the number of games would decrease by 25-30 percent, which could impact TV revenues. With five or six fewer home games, clubs would also risk a drop in ticket and sponsorship revenues. We are currently considering both options," said Ćus Bueno, who previously mentioned dividing the new league into two conferences, with spots for current EuroLeague participants and new clubs desired by the NBA.
EuroLeague Standings
Video: Carlik Jones after the win: I meant what I said before the derby!
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