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Tony Parker, the president of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, provided an update on the ongoing discussions between NBA representatives and Euroleague Basketball officials.
At 42 years old, Parker has been an outspoken advocate for the NBA potentially expanding into Europe, expressing his desire for ASVEL to be included in these initiatives. Along with reaffirming his commitment, he shared further insights.
“The NBA has reached out to me, and I’m involved in the conversations,” he stated in an interview with French publication L’Equipe on Wednesday, acknowledging the restrictions on public comments regarding this topic.
As a four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, Parker has positioned himself as a key intermediary in these discussions, leveraging his strong ties with the NBA and his role as president of a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague team.
“I met with Adam Silver and Mark Tatum,” he said, confirming that he has extended discussions with both the NBA commissioner and deputy commissioner, which has paved the way for engagements with Euroleague Basketball. “The aim was to discuss European basketball and bring everyone together—the NBA, EuroLeague, and FIBA.”
“The situation is straightforward. We either come to an agreement or the NBA will proceed independently. Our goal needs to be a merger or a partnership,” Parker elaborated on the potential directions of the negotiations.
He believes that a landmark agreement among the involved organizations would enhance the marketing opportunities for clubs in Europe, as noted by the ASVEL president.
“We aspire to be involved, but our objective is to unite efforts to create something unprecedented while ensuring that no historic European club is overlooked,” Parker emphasized the importance of respecting the existing basketball ecosystem.
In recent months, the NBA has indicated plans to consider expanding into Europe. However, the specifics of these plans remain unclear, likely due to ongoing discussions with various stakeholders, including Euroleague Basketball.
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