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Q. What feedback have you received from Real Madrid? Is it the cornerstone of the project? George Aivazoglou: Look, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate President Florentino Perez on his recent re-election. I can't comment on any specific club and the interactions we've had. However, I would say that Real Madrid is one of the biggest and one of the best, if not the biggest, when we talk about their fan base, of all the clubs in the world. Who wouldn't want to have Real Madrid in a European League, right? So, and like I said, we've interacted with teams that have football programs, we've interacted with teams that have football and basketball programs, and we're very, very positive about how those conversations continue.
Real Madrid is poised to solidify its commitment to Euroleague Basketball as the organization prepares a transition from licensed clubs into permanent franchises, a strategic process the Spanish giant itself actively proposed and pushed to expedite. According to Eurohoops sources, failure to execute this 10-year agreement—the only offer available, as no one-year wildcard will be granted—would forfeit a €30 million share generated by expansion fees, costing the club its zero-cost franchise spot. While the Spanish giant retains the legal right to sign until the eleventh hour on June 30th, rejection carries severe consequences. If Los Blancos refuse the terms, they might compete in the Basketball Champions League for one season before the anticipated launch of NBA Europe at the top of the 2027–28 club schedule, absorbing a financial blow.
At Real Madrid, they've already written off Trey Lyles. The 6'9" (2.06 m), 30-year-old power forward signed a one-year contract last summer, and it's highly unlikely the club will be able to renew it, as they had long hoped. Now, with the season abruptly ended and knowing he can't compete with other, much more lucrative offers or fulfill his desire to return to the NBA , they're already looking for a replacement.
Furthermore, it's likely that Real Madrid wouldn't be able to renew Lyles' contract even with a substantial offer. The player's main objective is to return to the NBA , where he already played 650 games over 10 seasons with the Jazz, Nuggets, Spurs, Pistons, and Kings . He recently changed representation agencies, specifically seeking a new chapter in the American league.
Mario Hezonja remains firmly committed to Real Madrid after a stellar 2025-26 campaign, with Eurohoops sources confirming his current contract runs until 2029 and contains an NBA opt-out clause exclusively. Consequently, it is highly unlikely that the 31-year-old Croatian combo forward will depart the team based in the Spanish capital for any destination outside of an NBA offer.
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And what about Real Madrid? Chus Bueno: “They have not signed yet, but I keep saying, as I said from the beginning, that they will stay with us. I was optimistic from day one because I just think that it is the best option for them. As well as Fenerbahce and ASVEL did, hopefully Real Madrid will do it too. We have to respect that they are in the midst of elections, with voting happening this weekend. Hopefully, at the beginning of next week, we can re-engage in the conversation and try to land this as soon as possible, because we need to move on with the next season. We need to present an update on the competition to the board on June 9, and it would be great if Madrid is already on board”.
Real Madrid will compete in the EuroLeague next season. According to information confirmed by AS, the Spanish club will extend its commitment to Europe's top basketball competition, which is currently undergoing major reorganization as the NBA prepares to enter the European market in October 2027. The North American league has not shifted that planned launch date at all, although time is running short and none of Europe's major clubs have yet confirmed their participation. Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner, acknowledged that they are "working on a very tight timeline" but said that their "intention and expectation" is to continue according to the planned schedule.
BasketNews referee consultant Todd Warnick offers his breakdown of the officiating in the final in this Give Me Control column. He discusses why Hezonja may have a point about "some weird (officiating) stuff in the end", but also shows that the "weird stuff" lasted throughout the entire game. Read why Warnick came away shocked by the number of missed calls caused by poor referee positioning and incorrect court coverage. He also discusses the incident involving Olympiacos' Shaq McKissic and Real's Facundo Campazzo, and what the outcome should have been, rather than the double technical fouls issued after the review.
In summary, the number of officiating errors climbed into the mid-20s, with roughly two-thirds favoring Olympiacos, including a physical altercation that appeared to be handled incorrectly. Too many of the mistakes also resulted from referees failing to take full responsibility for their primary coverage areas and failing to properly protect shooters. Overall, this was simply too many officiating errors for any game, let alone a EuroLeague final. It would benefit the referee department, league management, and the teams themselves to start asking "why" and learn from these mistakes moving forward.
Giannis Antetokounmpo attended the EuroLeague Final 2026 between Olympiacos Piraeus and Real Madrid in Athens and shared an interesting comment about a possible future in European basketball. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar was asked whether fans could eventually see him playing in a EuroLeague Final Four one day. "The fans have seen me play here," he said per EuroLeague TV. "I've played many times on this floor with the national team." After the interviewer clarified the question was specifically about the EuroLeague Final Four, Giannis admitted the idea could become reality in the future. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe one day it's gonna happen, but right now my focus is to play in the NBA for as many years as I can," he explained.
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EuroLeague: 🥶 That’s an event you don’t miss @Giannis_An34 and @Thanasis_ante43 are present! #F4GLORY
🥶 That’s an event you don’t miss @Giannis_An34 and @Thanasis_ante43 are present!#F4GLORY pic.twitter.com/S4cdqot9Ub
— EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) May 24, 2026
Meanwhile, like the NBA, the EuroLeague is also talking to football clubs, as it was evident from the recent meeting of the EuroLeague president, Dejan Bodiroga, who met PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, and Bueno is optimistic about the upcoming decision of Real Madrid, the only team/shareholder that has not yet signed the new 10-year deal with the league. “Teams know that their leverage is working together”, added Bueno. He also explained what is really different in Europe compared to the US: “Here every single club is a community, not just a money play. Sports clubs were created to be communities and those are key values of the ecosystem”.
Sergio Scariolo regarding NBA Europe : “ Real Madrid is very active in trying to build bridges between the EuroLeague and NBA Europe; they haven't taken a position, but they understood from the beginning that, as long as there is a possibility of an agreement, we must work together and strive to achieve something common. The time will come when we will have to make a final decision, but I believe there is still room to maintain some unity for the good of our basketball , which means not squandering the legacy of the EuroLeague and not missing the opportunity to see the main institution of our sport, which has expressed its desire to enter Europe ,” the coach concluded.
Ömer Yurtseven’s arrival at Real Madrid is now official. The Turkish center, who played for Panathinaikos this season, has signed with the club until June 30, 2026. Real Madrid has issued an official statement announcing the arrival of the former NBA player. With Edy Tavares (knee) and Alex Len (plantar fasciitis) presumably out for the remainder of the season, Yurtseven arrives to help the team in the final stretch of the Spanish league season.