The renunciation of Gran Canaria to play the EuroLeague continues to keep alive a divisive discussion: the sustainability of the project is guaranteed only to those who can invest a lot of money, but we would like to know from you your point of view on the meaning that this renunciation has for the EL as a competition. Going beyond the specific case, GranCa’s statement was “we cannot participate because we cannot afford it economically”. Maybe there won’t be much talk about it, but it’s a pretty important spy that I think all of EuroLeague should consider. How do you assess the situation?
I believe that the case of Gran Canaria is a very special case. Particular in the geographical sense, it has nothing to do with the quality of the organization. We are talking about a team that has regularly been among the protagonists in the EuroCup and at medium-high level, always, in ACB. I do not agree that you have to spend crazy amounts, but you must know that to do EuroLeague you still need a minimum budget of a certain type and the tranquility of being able to manage these large investments. To handle very heavy trips, it is a fact to be taken into account. Gran Canaria is in my opinion a very special case in the geography in EuroLeague basketball. I think they made a thoughtful and intelligent choice. The example of the last year in which they risked relegation to LEB Oro is the demonstration that to make the EuroLeague you need big numbers in the budget. The minimum required is about €7,000,000, it is not impossible to reach. But you have to have the peace of mind of a roster of a certain type: right now you don’t see teams with less than 13-14 players in the squad to manage EL and domestic league and all the rest of the logistics. Sorry for Gran Canaria, but the truth is that in the end it is a very special case. I think they chose with their heads. For EuroLeague I am sorry because Gran Canaria had deserved the opportunity to play on the field, but I do not think that there are other realities so conditioned from a geographical point of view. Making EuroLeague is not easy, you have to make investments but you can make good EL without spending crazy amounts.
We need a lot of investment, true, but isn’t it that perhaps we are underestimating the fact that those who invest so much money in creating EuroLeague rosters, in creating a certain type of show, should provide for a determined return on the investments themselves? From the outside it seems that you spend 100 but you return for much less. Is there this reasoning or not?
In EuroLeague there is a desire to try to change things. It is not for me to anticipate anything, but as a member of the working committee I can say that we are studying a new model of Financial Fair Play that we will present very soon to all clubs. We must try to aim for increasingly sustainable management models, without perhaps preventing teams that want to spend as the NBA does. In the end, this is the secret of American leagues, not only in basketball: we try to focus on the sustainability of the project and bring the teams in this dimension to be closer in the management gap that distinguishes them. The issue of greater sustainability of EL teams is on the table, it is an issue that is close to the heart of all clubs, which will be carried out I hope decisively in the coming months. I confirm that we are very attentive to this aspect of the problem: you cannot think of moving forward by developing an ecosystem that produces only significant losses. The magic word is always balance.
Another important issue for EuroLeague is the flight of talents to the NBA: we lost the last 2 MVPs, we lost Exum and maybe others… How can you think not to prevent the escape, it would be impossible for players of that level and with those opportunities, but to find new balances? Great young people are aiming directly at the NBA. Well-known stars also forward in years point to the NBA. Players who have a great season, at Exum, have the focus in mind of the NBA. How to prevent impoverishing such a competitive tournament like EuroLeague?
Having the right formula, at least at this time, is not easy but it is certainly a very delicate problem. Fundamental for the future of basketball in general, not only in the EuroLeague or in Europe but internationally. It is a problem that must be considered in its entirety. It’s great when you see that 25% of the players in the NBA are international, it’s equally true that you have to leave the player the freedom to bet a goal of the highest level, he must be able to aim at achieving dreams in his profession. However, there are other things to evaluate: a few years ago the NBA roster started at the beginning of the year from 12 players to potentially reach 14 members, now the NBA roster no longer ends. Between two-way, Exhibit-10 and G League contracts, an NBA franchise manages dozens of players. If we think about a possible expansion, moreover, the situation of the international market is increasingly weak. The stakeholders of this EL Board must begin to consider the seriousness of the problem, the importance of the problem, otherwise it becomes increasingly difficult to find those who decide to invest in player development. We need there to always be companies that want to invest in young people, develop talents. A worrying sign was the U19 World Cup: one sees Spain, France and Turkey arrive ahead of the USA and realizes that the quality of next year’s Draft could include 10 to 20 international players. Cyclically even the Americans can have not particularly valid classes, but the talent is now raked in a bit from all sides. You have to work to reward those who work to create players, there is nothing to do. The “How?” is to be seen, but the question is delicate, it must be addressed both for those who have not too many resources and for those who have more resources. We must allow players to chase their dreams but better protect what we cannot protect at the moment.
