Euroleague Open to Talks with NBA Over New European Competition

Euroleague CEO Paulius Motiejunas says the organization is willing to talk to the NBA about its plans for a new European competition, despite not being included in initial discussions.

Euroleague CEO Paulius Motiejunas has expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with the National Basketball Association (NBA) regarding a potential new competition in Europe. This development comes after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced that the league is exploring opportunities to launch a new league on the continent.

Silver's comments were made during a press conference with International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, where he stated that the NBA feels it is “the time to move to the next stage” in Europe. The NBA has long considered expanding its presence in Europe, and Motiejunas believes that the Euroleague should be a key part of any future plans.

Motiejunas emphasized the importance of involving the Euroleague in any discussions about a new competition, saying, “When they talk about big teams, big names, I cannot imagine this potential league without us.” He questioned whether a successful league could be created without the participation of Euroleague teams, their fans, and the cultural and historical context they bring. “Can we talk about the best product possible without the Euroleague teams, their fans, our market, the culture, the passion and the history that goes with it?” Motiejunas asked, highlighting the significance of the Euroleague's contribution to European basketball.

Paulius Motiejūnas believes that the work EuroLeague has already done will convince everyone that it remains the best place to continue growing 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/RcWNSTrgvL

— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) March 28, 2025

The NBA's initial proposal for a European league involves a 16-team competition, comprising 12 permanent clubs and four teams that would need to qualify annually. This concept differs from the existing Euroleague, which features 18 teams.

Despite the NBA's plans not explicitly mentioning the Euroleague, Paulius Motiejunas expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with the NBA. He stated, “We are always ready to sit down and explore together the best solution to offer an even better product.”

Motiejunas adopted a positive stance regarding the NBA's interest in the European market, facilitated by FIBA. He noted, “We see positively the fact that the NBA wants to explore the European market with FIBA's help.” Furthermore, Motiejunas downplayed the potential for conflict, saying, “I don't see this as a declaration of war.”