EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas addressed the NBA’s potential plans to expand into Europe, emphasizing that European basketball does not need saving.
Speaking to Gabriele Mikneviciute of Krepsinis.net, Motiejunas acknowledged the NBA’s global influence but argued that European basketball is already strong and does not need external intervention. “We understand that basketball in Europe does not need to be saved. European basketball is strong, and it simply has to be further developed and grown to compete with other sports,” he stated.
He believes the best approach is cooperation rather than competition. “Instead of coming in and flexing muscles to show how strong or not strong we are, we should sit down and discuss how to grow basketball together—not just in Europe but also in America with the NBA, and globally with FIBA,” he said.
The NBA has explored launching its own European league or forming partnerships with existing teams. Commissioner Adam Silver has hinted at a possible new competition but has not confirmed any immediate plans.
Motiejunas revealed that communication between the EuroLeague and the NBA has been inconsistent. “For 10 years, the leagues did not talk to each other. And now, I’ve been here for a year and a half and still haven’t met Adam Silver. It’s not like the EuroLeague leadership spoke with the NBA leadership,” he stated.
Despite initial discussions with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum and former NBA Europe executives, Motiejunas said talks stalled. “We used to have contact and quite a bit of it, but now it’s a little lost. We are working on bringing it back,” he admitted.
He described the NBA’s offer as a “marriage offer,” suggesting that it sought deep cooperation from the start. EuroLeague clubs hesitated, preferring a step-by-step approach. “From ten years of no communication to an offer that’s like marriage is a major commitment. Naturally, clubs said, ‘Wow, slow down—maybe we take this step by step,’” he explained.
Motiejunas emphasized that gradual collaboration is the best way forward. “We should take small steps, build trust, and test how we can work together. Maybe in the distant future, there could be very close cooperation, but after so much time of no communication, we should proceed more slowly,” he said.
Despite financial challenges in European basketball, he remains confident in the EuroLeague’s stability. “We have 18 teams, we could have 20, and we could definitely have more,” he asserted.
He dismissed concerns about clubs losing money, stating that financial management is each team’s responsibility. “Everyone can say clubs lose money or don’t lose money, but that’s an issue for each club. As a league, we set Financial Fair Play Regulations and do everything possible to reduce losses,” he said.
The NBA has been in discussions with FIBA about expanding its reach in Europe. Some proposals include an annual tournament or integrating top EuroLeague teams into an NBA-affiliated structure.
Another concept involves collaborating with major European soccer clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, potentially establishing basketball teams under their brands.
The financial disparity between European clubs and NBA teams remains a key factor. European teams generate less revenue and lack the financial strength of their NBA or soccer counterparts.
Motiejunas acknowledged that improvements can be made but stressed that the EuroLeague remains a high-level product. “We are self-confident enough to say that basketball in Europe is at the top. I’m not saying it cannot grow further, but the EuroLeague as a product is very strong,” he stated.
For now, the NBA continues to explore its options. Discussions have advanced, but no official plans have been announced.
Motiejunas and the EuroLeague are open to dialogue but insist that any partnership should develop gradually rather than disrupt European basketball’s existing structure.
