NBA head offers encouraging prospects for Alba
Let's Talk NBA Europe: Is Alba Berlin Ready for the Big Leagues?
By Bastian Teinert
Rumors about a European NBA expansion have been swirling for quite some time. The NBA, led by Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, are pushing hard for this project, homes in on big clubs, brands, and underdog contenders like Alba Berlin.
While nothing is set in stone yet, there have been whispers of high-profile teams like PSG, ManCity, and even Olympique Marseille being part of the discussions[4].
Though Mark Tatum mentioned in a recent media round that there's "no clear timeline yet," he hinted that things could change come summer[5].
NBA's Minions on the Hunt
George Aivazoglou, the "Managing Director" of the NBA for Europe and the Middle East, spoke with "Basketball-World" and said, "Alba is a fantastic organization, run and planned meticulously. We haven't had any concrete conversations with them, but Berlin is an interesting city, and Alba represents it well."
This tiny tidbit has given Alba fans a glimmer of hope for a NBA future and spectacular games. Leaving the top European basketball league, the Euroleague, at season's end, Alba will now compete in the Champions League, a league one rung below the Euroleague[1].
Alba Berlin: NBA's Next Big Thing?
With FIBA and the NBA in close talks about the European basketball league expansion, the possibility of Alba joining the NBA Europe league seems to be coming up. In a media round, Tatum stated, "The top two teams of the Basketball Champions League could qualify for the new top league."
If Alba Berlin wants to keep Mercedes-Benz Arena nearly full after leaving the Euroleague, they need stronger opponents than their current champions league foes, AEK Athens or VEF Riga[2].
While there's no concrete evidence that Alba Berlin is considering the NBA Europe league, their move to the Champions League amid the shifting European basketball landscape sparks curiosity[3]. It's an exciting time for Alba Berlin fans, and we'll have to wait and see what the future holds.
Enrichment Data:There is currently no direct indication that Alba Berlin is specifically considering joining the proposed NBA Europe league. However, their move to the Basketball Champions League (BCL) comes after FIBA and the NBA announced their joint exploration of creating a new professional men's basketball league in Europe[1][2][3]. Alba Berlin's decision to join the BCL was part of responding to the changing European basketball landscape, as stated by their Managing Director, Marco Baldi. While Alba Berlin's move to the BCL and the NBA Europe project are noted together in discussions, there is no explicit statement from Alba Berlin about joining the NBA Europe league. It is worth monitoring future developments as the NBA Europe project progresses. [1] https://www.euroleague.net/news/basketball/ alert/berlin-alba-joins-champions-league/2021-06-30/ [2] https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/06/berlin-alba-champions-league.html [3] https://insidehoops.com/alba-berlin-joins-basketball-champions-league/ [4] https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/17/nba-europe-teams-league-details-timeline [5] https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32056253/adam-silver-nba-commissioner-teams-push-new-league-europe
The NBA's Managing Director for Europe and the Middle East, George Aivazoglou, has expressed interest in Alba Berlin, as they are a well-run and well-representative team for Berlin.
With the NBA and FIBA in discussions about creating a new European basketball league, Alba Berlin's move to the Basketball Champions League could potentially position them as contenders for the new league.
