Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement - scroll for more content
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
“Unfortunately, we know how to deal with these situations,” said Zagklis, referring to war outbreaks in Ukraine and the Middle East that coincided with FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments. “And also, unfortunately, the federations in the area are resilient and are ready to respond in the best possible way,” Zagklis continued. “We have excellent partners in Qatar. If things arrive at that spot, I’m sure we will have very good and direct conversations, and we’ll find the best possible solution for the players and the fans.”
The war in Iran, which spread quickly across the Middle East, has altered the impact for what is likely a mid-eight-figure sponsorship agreement—among the most expensive patch deals in the NBA. Abu Dhabi has built a reputation in recent years as a safe option for tourists and professionals across the region, but as tens of millions of people globally see the Experience Abu Dhabi patch during the Knicks’ Finals games, the emirate is reckoning with a shift in circumstance. “No matter what type of tourism advertising they do, they can’t overcome the geopolitical realities or facts on the ground,” Eric Lob, a Middle East expert and professor at Florida International University, said in an interview. “They’ve sustained a lot of damage and destruction to their civilian and energy infrastructure. Their image as a hub of stability—for investment, tourism, finance, etc.—has really taken a hit. … It’s a precarious time for them.”
According to many sources close to the bidding process, the interest for the NBA project is coming mainly from US funds, that are aiming for the UK and Rome, while there’s also local interest for Paris. Due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Arabian funds are currently more reluctant. However, there’s money on the table, even if everyone agrees at this point that nobody is willing to pay a 500M fee to enter the new league.
The ongoing instability in the Middle East has disrupted travel across the region, leaving multiple basketball figures unable to leave the United Arab Emirates after airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were closed. Partizan players Dylan Osetkowski and Shake Milton are among those stranded, while Meridian Sport reports that Duane Washington also remains in Dubai after traveling there during the national team break.
Silver, the NBA commissioner, is working to stand up a new league in Europe through the deep pockets of sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, traditional investment firms in the U.S. and Europe, powerhouse European soccer clubs, and a lucrative media rights deal. To begin with, it will be a 16-team league, with 12 teams holding permanent licenses and the other four spots open to virtually any pro team on the continent that can win enough to qualify. The NBA is targeting London, Rome, Paris, Milan, Berlin, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, Istanbul, Manchester (England) and Lyon (France) for cities with licensed, permanent teams.
Advertisement
Brian Windhorst: The Lakers were bought with Middle East money. I know that Mark Walter is the governor. I guess Jeanie Buss is the governor, but he is the controlling owner. But that group, Mark Walter's group, took on 10 billion dollars from Abu Dhabi shortly before. I don't work for the company, so I can't verify… But they took on $10 billion from Abu Dhabi and then three months later bought the Lakers for 10 billion. They actually bought it for six billion, but 10 billion valuation. The influx of that Middle Eastern money and the Lakers just swifted all the valuations. So maybe they knew that they could sell the team for 10 billion, but maybe they didn't think they could do that till 2035, but all of a sudden the Lakers are now worth a lot of money.
The NBA and Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism announced an extension of their partnership Thursday, with the league agreeing to continue bringing preseason games to the Middle East and the sides completing talks to launch a new global academy in the United Arab Emirates' capital for top boys players. Financial terms were not disclosed, though it's reasonable to expect that the nine-year extension would be worth well over $300 million — based on how the DCT agreed to pay the EuroLeague a reported 25 million euros ($29.2 million) to play host to that league's Final Four last year.
Currently, NBA rules restrict sovereign wealth funds from owning greater than 20 percent of any of the league’s 30 teams. But for years, the league has nurtured relationships with controlling rulers, governments and investment funds from the Middle East, through numerous exhibition games both for NBA teams and USA Basketball in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A new European league could be the way for those investors to eventually break through in the American game.
George Aivazoglou, NBA’s Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East, on NBA Europe: “There has been tremendous momentum since we made the joint announcement. Our commissioner, Adam Silver, and the Secretary-General of FIBA, Andreas Zagklis, have been working relentlessly since March. We are in a very advanced phase of this exploratory stage. We hired two advisory banks in the summer — JP Morgan and Raine — and we are having productive discussions with many stakeholders: investors, clubs and other actors. We are at a very advanced level of progress in the project.”
Also, while speaking about the markets with permanent franchises, he named seven countries. “In phase one, our plan is Spain, UK, France, Italy, Germany, maybe Turkey, and maybe Greece. But there will be some open spots in the ecosystem, so in the early phase, they will be able to qualify,” he replied to a question about NBA Europe featuring teams from Israel and the Middle East, which, for the moment, can’t aim for a permanent spot.
Advertisement
Silver, however, is focused on his Middle East partners in Abu Dhabi. How and where all the money might flow and the impact it could have remains to be seen. But what is known is that the connection between the NBA and the Middle East is real, and an expansion of the relationship is coming, and the league is shoring up support with rivals, both seen and unseen, across the region. "We are thinking about the long term, not just the next couple of years," Al Mubarak said. "I believe that this partnership with the NBA will outlive me."
Following the EuroLeague's statement, George Aivazoglou, NBA Europe and Middle East Managing Director, emphasized that the NBA remains open to a partnership with the EuroLeague. "In collaboration with FIBA, we continue to have good-faith discussions with the EuroLeague about a new model for European basketball that would accelerate the growth of the game, celebrate the rich basketball traditions in so many cities and countries, and better serve fans across the continent," Aivazoglou said in his statement.
Per Eurohoops sources, as the managing director of NBA Europe and the Middle East, George Aivazoglou, said in his recent interviews, it was repeated to EuroLeague clubs that the expected date for the new league to launch is the start of the 2027-28 season, and that it would include 16 teams, with 12 of them having long-term contracts and four more earning the right to play via qualification on an annual basis.
The NBA’s general manager for Europe and the Middle East, George Aivazoglou, shared details about the upcoming NBA Europe, expected to launch in 2027. Aivazoglou explained the planned structure and vision for NBA Europe, outlining how the league would operate and what makes it unique. “The earliest start would be October 2027. Our vision is a semi-open competition with 16 teams — 12 permanent franchises and 4 qualifying from other competitions, with the Basketball Champions League (organized by FIBA) as a central pathway,” he said per L'Equipe's Yan Ohnona