Valencia Basket GM Enric Carbonell stated that the team's participation in next season's EuroLeague is guaranteed if it wins the EuroCup.
EuroLeague is exploring the possibility of expanding to 20 teams for the 2025-26 season, according to BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas. The league is considering adding two more clubs to support its vision of stability, continuity, and added value.
Despite its strong history, project, and upcoming new arena, long-time EuroLeague participant Valencia Basket is still without a permanent spot.
In light of this, Valencia GM Enric Carbonell spoke with Juan Carlos Villena of Las Provincias, acknowledging that more teams want to join the strongest league in Europe.
"The reality is that there are more clubs on the waiting list to enter the EuroLeague," Carbonell said. "We are seeing, for example, the bids of the two Israeli teams that are competing in the EuroCup, with budgets at or above that of Valencia Basket."
Valencia could secure a EuroLeague spot next season even without expansion if it wins the EuroCup, as Paris Basketball did last year.
"The team that wins the EuroCup has the chance to play in the EuroLeague. In other words, it depends on the team and not on the league's decision," Carbonell explained. "If, for instance, Paris and Monaco [both non-licensed EuroLeague clubs] make the Top 8, the lowest-ranked team would lose the right to participate in the EuroLeague."
As for the club's ongoing negotiations with the EuroLeague, Carbonell stated:
"We are still in talks with the EuroLeague," he told Las Provincias about the long-term license. "Now, the first thing the EuroLeague has to do is vote and decide if there is an expansion. If it happens, they will have to decide how to do it. With an expansion, there are more options for an agreement.
"There is room for more teams, but the message we can give to our fans is that Valencia Basket will be able to play in the EuroLeague if they win the EuroCup. That is the only certainty at the moment."
The executive also mentioned that the EuroLeague has not yet decided how the new spots would be filled in case of an expansion, whether with more A licenses or another type of agreement.
In addition to the EuroLeague expansion, another major topic is the NBA Europe project.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver hinted at an independent European league during the NBA Paris Games 2025 between the Spurs and Pacers.
"I was in Paris and had contacts with the NBA, as I've had before," Carbonell noted. "In addition to the EuroLeague, I hold regular meetings with the FEB [Spanish Federation] and FIBA. We need to have all the information.
"As a club, we have to listen to everyone, and if the NBA calls us, we will talk, for sure."
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