Giannis Sfairopoulos's Intervention at the European Parliament on Basketball: “Sports Are Not Just Entertainment”

On Tuesday, March 24th, during an event in Brussels focused on European basketball, Giannis Sfairopoulos delivered a remarkably direct assessment of the present and future of the sport in Europe.

In his capacity as Vice President of the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board (EHCB), Coach Sfairopoulos, without explicitly naming the NBA, voiced concerns regarding the American approach to sports. While not ruling out collaboration, he made it clear that any such partnership would require clearly defined boundaries.

Sfairopoulos's address, which garnered significant attention at the conference titled “Strengthening European Basketball: Sustainable Development and Safeguards for the European Sports Model,” began with his personal experience. He plainly stated that “in Europe, sport is not merely entertainment. It is a public good.

It holds social and educational value.”

Specifically addressing the NBA's plans, Sfairopoulos, without engaging in direct confrontation, remarked: “Growth is important. Financial power is important. But they must remain connected to values and to people. This balance is what has brought European basketball to where it is today. And governance plays a key role here. Decisions regarding competitions, the calendar, rules, and long-term priorities must remain anchored in Europe and shaped by European stakeholders – clubs, leagues, players, coaches, fans, and grassroots structures. This is not about closing our door to the world. It is about maintaining accountability to the communities that support the game.”

He also touched upon the issue of talent leaving Europe for the USA, which naturally includes the NCAA, with Sfairopoulos stating:

“Europe should not simply become a pipeline that sends talent elsewhere. It must remain a destination – a place where talent is developed, celebrated, and given the opportunity to flourish.” The concluding message was clear and perfectly aligned with the core principles of the European Union: “Europe represents integration, not division. Sport should not divide larger and smaller markets, or East and West. It must reflect the spirit of Europe itself — open, ambitious, connected, and based on solidarity. If there is one thing we need for the future, it is unity towards the ultimate goal. All of us — players, coaches, clubs, leagues, institutions, and fans — must work together to protect the identity of basketball and create the conditions for it to thrive at every level.”