Ergin Ataman remains doubtful about the viability of a separate NBA-backed European league, citing European basketball's fragmentation and deeming the inclusion of football clubs unrealistic. He also advocates for enhanced EuroLeague marketing and synchronized international calendars.
Ergin Ataman said that he does not find the NBA's project of establishing a league in Europe in partnership with FIBA realistic. The Turkish coach expressed skepticism regarding the NBA's proposed initiative.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Ataman articulated concerns about the feasibility and potential impact of such a venture on the existing European basketball landscape.
Ataman highlighted the current fragmentation within European basketball, pointing to the multitude of competitions and the scheduling conflicts posed by national team matches during the club season.
The 59-year-old tactician claims that there is a serious division in European basketball.
“There are many different competitions. The domestic league games played during the season create serious problems. Both NBA and EuroLeague players cannot take part in these competitions. FIBA and EuroLeague have had a rivalry for years. The EuroLeague has become one of the best leagues in the world, not just in Europe, in technical terms," Ataman noted.
"The EuroLeague is a more enjoyable competition to watch, even compared to the NBA," he continued.
"However, it has not been able to create this value in financial terms. There are serious problems with the clubs' budgets. At this stage, I think the marketing power that the NBA will create will be beneficial for the EuroLeague. If the NBA supports the EuroLeague only in terms of marketing, this will be beneficial.
But I do not think that the separate league that the NBA plans to establish will be valid," he stessed.
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Moreover, Ataman described the possibility that the league planned to be established in Europe would include basketball teams from world-famous football clubs as remote.
"There are rumors that football clubs like Manchester United and PSG will be in the league that the NBA is planning to establish. I see this as a utopia," he pointed out.
"These are football clubs. There are no players in Europe to feed that many teams. I see this as a rivalry between FIBA and the EuroLeague.
In fact, if FIBA were to abandon this rivalry and focus entirely on national team organizations, if the EuroLeague were to become more effective in marketing, and if a more realistic calendar could be agreed upon where both NBA and EuroLeague players could play in all national matches, it would be much more beneficial for everyone," he said.
