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Derrick White: Choose, hit the game winner for Barcelona against Real Madrid in Madrid or lead Atletico fans in their anthem after they finally beat Madrid in the Champions League final. Hugo Gonzalez: Because I got a lot of family that is from Atletico, I'll just say Atletico. So also, I play Real Madrid basketball too. So I would not like it. White: You wouldn't play for Barça? Gonzalez: I wouldn't like it, honestly.
Amid reports that the NBA offered roughly $581M to buy EuroLeague -- and dangled entry fees of about $447M for EuroLeague teams to join NBA Europe -- sources said senior NBA leadership attended London’s Ballon d’Or Monday night and potentially held advanced discussions with several potential franchises.
Over the weekend, Britain’s Sky Sports reported that PSG, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid were expected to attend the Ballon d’Or event -- soccer’s preeminent award presentation -- and that NBA Europe could be broached in either casual or formal conversations. However, Barcelona-based publication Sport reported that Barcelona and Bayern (two EuroLeague clubs) were not expected to be in London and that, instead, Real Madrid remains the EuroLeague team most likely to engage with NBA executives. PSG does not have a basketball team and is also likely to continue talks about launching an NBA Europe franchise.
FC Barcelona will be represented at the highest level this Monday and Tuesday at the EuroLeague summit of the 13 clubs , which will be held on Lake Como , Italy. Joan Laporta will ultimately lead the Barça delegation. He had initially considered delegating the role to board member Sisco Pujol , head of the basketball section, and executive Xavi O'Callaghan . However, Laporta has ultimately decided to lead the delegation himself, given the importance of the meeting where a decision must be made on whether to accept Euroleague 's proposed acquisition of the NBA or to maintain the current format. Laporta intends to listen and discuss the matter before FC Barcelona adopts a final position .
FC Barcelona continue to strengthen their perimeter rotation ahead of the 2026-27 season. The club officially announced the signing of former NBA guard Tyrese Martin to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old is set to begin the first European chapter of his professional career after spending the past several seasons between the NBA and the G League. Martin split the 2025-26 NBA season between the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, appearing in 46 games and averaging 6.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
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FC Barcelona announced another backcourt addition ahead of the 2026-27 season. The Spanish club officially confirmed the signing of former NBA guard Stanley Umude.
Just moments before the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina was set to kick off, a Lakers champion revealed he is at the game. Pau Gasol posted a photo of himself and his wife, Catherine McDonnell, at the game during pregame festivities. Gasol, a native of Spain, is one of the many celebrities and former top athletes of the world watching the biggest soccer match of the year between Spain and Argentina. Gasol is an avid soccer fan and has been a huge FC Barcelona fan. He has long admired Lionel Messi and has called him a “special player.”
Nikola Kusturica is widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents not only in Serbia, but in global basketball. He is currently shining at the FIBA U17 World Championship, where his performances have attracted significant interest from U.S. colleges. According to Meridian Sport, UCLA has offered the FC Barcelona prospect a $12 million NIL deal for two seasons. Kusturica had already been on the radar of several NCAA programs, but his standout performances at the tournament have further boosted his profile among scouts.
FC Barcelona faces a potential legal battle with Mike James after allegedly abruptly backing out of a signed contract, according to Mundo Deportivo. Before igniting this controversy, the EuroLeague superstar and the Catalan club had reportedly formalized an agreement, signaling a major acquisition. Departing head coach Xavi Pascual had heavily advocated for the 35-year-old point guard to bolster the roster for the upcoming 2026–27 season. However, the situation shifted entirely when the 53-year-old tactician exercised his release clause to leave the club.
Xavi Pascual's departure at the end of this season will not only mean a change on the Barça bench but also a profound restructuring of the entire basketball section. The Gavà native's decision to pay the buyout clause in his contract (just over €400,000) to end the two years remaining on his contract at the Palau represents a resounding failure for the sporting management, which will be completely overhauled. The main casualty will be Juan Carlos Navarro, whose departure from the manager's position is already a done deal. Pascual's unexpected exit is the final nail in a coffin that has been built on a string of failed gambles over the last three years. The departures of Sarunas Jasikevicius and Nikola Mirotic, the signing of Willy Hernangómez as the cornerstone of the subsequent project, and the poor performance of the Barça team, which hasn't won a single title in these last three seasons, all weigh heavily on the legendary former player, who has failed to live up to his on-court success in the front office.
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Should teams that are not public limited sports companies (SADs) like Barça or Real Madrid create commercial companies to access financing from these funds? Chus Bueno: Barcelona and Real Madrid have financed themselves without becoming public limited companies. I don't think they need to. They've created different vehicles. Real Madrid created a company called Bernabéu SL to bring in money for the stadium. Barça has also created some companies. The thing is, like any club, you want to protect your equity and you want to look at operations differently than if you were the owner, a situation where you put up the money and have more independence. It creates a bit more doubt, fear, and confusion for club members when you're handing it over to a third party because the club used to belong to everyone. Each club must understand what it wants to be and align it with its members, who are the ones who have to decide. In Germany, for example, there are many clubs that have done this, but where 51% are members and 49% are sponsors or investors. And they've felt comfortable with this model.
Finally, Jokic revisited the famous scouting game against Cedevita Olimpija, when Barcelona reportedly lost interest in him. "I did not sabotage it," Jokic said. "But I did have moments later where I would not be aggressive. I would not shoot. Some days I just did not want to. I would just keep passing and Deki wanted to kill me. If I knew how the situation would develop later, maybe I would have sabotaged it."
FC Barcelona traveled to London to learn firsthand about the NBA's proposal . Josep Cubells, the section's top executive, and Jordi Trías, who joined the sporting department a few months ago, participated in a meeting that included Pau Gasol as part of an attempt to entice the club, but the meeting offered few new developments or concrete details . Barça, and perhaps it's significant that this meeting with Silver and his team didn't change anything, has a clear position: EuroLeague (which will be ratified by the board of directors), without completely closing the door on the new competition… but only once it has taken shape or is clearly going to do so. Why take the risk before then? The buyout clauses for those who have renewed, or will renew, their EuroLeague contracts until 2036 are the same as in previous contracts: ten million euros .
Silver also confirmed that he has spoken to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain as he looks to mix established European teams with new ones. However, reports say the existing EuroLeague - which features Real and Barcelona - has concerns about the new venture, threatening legal action against the NBA should clubs break existing agreements to take part in the new competition.