Euroleague's Resilience: Chus Bueno Assures League's Survival Amidst NBA Europe Expansion

Following the announcement of new permanent franchises and an expansion to 24 teams by the 2027-2028 season, coinciding with the launch of NBA Europe, Euroleague CEO Chus Bueno shared his perspectives in an interview with British media outlet City A.M. He addressed several key points regarding the evolving landscape of European basketball.

"The NBA has been making more noise in recent weeks," Bueno stated. "They will come to Europe, with or without the Euroleague, and Euroleague clubs are reacting to this. It's as if they are prepared to cooperate with the NBA, but also ready to fight." He emphasized the league's stability, adding, "People need to understand one thing: the Euroleague will never disappear. In a worst-case scenario, five clubs will move to NBA Europe, and the Euroleague will still have 15 teams, so there's no chance the league will vanish."

The Euroleague is also transitioning to a franchise model, aiming to consolidate its 13 current permanent clubs under this new structure. Some of these clubs, such as ASVEL and Real Madrid, have reportedly been targets for NBA Europe.

"We have never been in a better position," Bueno asserted. "People won't understand if you extend and then leave. That would be bad faith."

Bueno also discussed what he termed the "inevitable" direct competition that will emerge between the Euroleague and NBA Europe.

"This will create a battle for TV rights, sponsors, and even in markets, as we have offers to establish teams in Rome, London, or Berlin, and the NBA is also targeting these cities," he explained. "This risks diluting the value of investments, and the risks will be greater. When you invest money, you don't want risks. This will lead to a lot of fragmentation and friction, and we don't want that. We should both avoid it, but it's inevitable."