Dimitris Giannakopoulos, owner of Panathinaikos, said today, Wednesday, that major European basketball clubs must work with the NBA to reach a joint cooperation formula, a day after it rejected an offer from the American NBA to launch a new tournament in Europe.
Yesterday, Tuesday, the most prominent European clubs rejected an offer from the American Basketball League, in a decision that could pave the way for direct competition between the two sides to attract clubs, players, and commercial revenues in Europe.
Informed sources told Reuters that the clubs contributing to the European Basketball League rejected, during their meeting in Italy, an offer of cooperation made by the NBA, but they did not rule out the possibility of reaching an agreement at a later time.
Giannakopoulos said on social media: “We have all succeeded in elevating the sport we love to a competition that the NBA, the best championship in the world, wants to invest in and be part of its future plans.”
He added: “With all respect, and with all pride in what we have achieved, we must find a solution together.”
Panathinaikos, based in Athens, is one of the most prominent European League clubs, having won the European Champion title 7 times. While the European League continues to implement its expansion plans, it is still unclear whether the American Basketball League will present a new offer or not.
A prominent sports official told Reuters that any potential cooperation would likely not begin before 2028. Due to the difficulty of launching a new tournament by the 2027-2028 season.
Although the European League did not refer, in its statement, to the offer that received widespread media coverage, it informed Reuters last Friday that it was still open to cooperation. Also, the clubs’ rejection of the current proposal does not necessarily mean the cessation of talks with the NBA.
Giannakopoulos said that some European clubs do not view developing the game as a priority.
He added: “Some still believe that success is measured by the amount of money you lose at the end of the year. “Basketball is not just a game for the rich.”
The NBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. George Ayvazoglu, executive director of the NBA Project in Europe, is scheduled to speak at a conference in London, tomorrow, Thursday.
This rejection constitutes a major setback for attempts to integrate the established elite basketball competition in Europe with the financial and commercial power of the American League, which plans to launch the American Basketball League in Europe, with the participation of 16 teams in 2027.
Thomas Tuchel, coach of the England national football team, confirmed that Harry Kane, the team's veteran striker, deserves all expressions of praise and appreciation.
Kane led the England national team to a 3-0 victory over its guest, the Czech national team, yesterday, Tuesday, in the fourth round of the third group stage in the first level of the European Nations League, where he scored two goals in the match in which he equaled the record for the number of international appearances with the England national team.
Kane continued his remarkable brilliance at the ancient Wembley Stadium in the British capital, London, as he scored two goals and caused another goal, which was accidentally scored by Vladimir Koval, the Czech player, into his own net, in the match in which he equaled the record of legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton by reaching his 125th international match.
Kane received warm applause and the fans stood and applauded him when he was substituted near the end of the match, which witnessed the England team almost certainly winning a place in the quarter-finals of the continental competition.
Tuchel said after the match, in statements reported by the British news agency (BA Media): “Wonderful... wonderful. Truly amazing performance. “I think the level of the team was very good, and so was Harry’s performance.”
The German coach added: “Kane was decisive for us once again, and on this very special day for him, as he equaled Peter Shilton’s record, he proves that he belongs to this category of great players.”
“This is amazing,” Tuchel stressed. “Kane deserves this position, and he deserves all this praise.”
Kane is preparing to hold the record as the player who participated most with the English men's national team in the match scheduled for next month against the Croatia national team, which suffered a catastrophic loss to Tuchel's team with a score of 0-7 in the Croatian city of Rijeka, last Saturday in the same tournament.
This landslide victory, in addition to the 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in the first leg in Prague last week, contributed to compensating for the exciting and dramatic loss of the England national team, 2-3, to its Spanish counterpart, in the opening round of the group, as part of the team’s efforts to move forward and overcome the World Cup stage, which witnessed the Three Lions team obtaining third place.
In response to a question about whether he felt that the team had taken a step forward compared to its situation at the end of the summer, Tuchel said: “Yes, of course, and this is what we have to do.”
The England national team coach added: “This is our goal. Continuous improvement and development. We went through these experiences together, and we participated in a big tournament together.”
Tuchel continued, saying: “It was a very positive experience, however it remains necessary to move forward and improve, especially in the field of sports, and this is exactly what we are trying to do.”
Tuchel stressed: “We have modified some details in the team’s structure and playing style, without compromising or compromising on the level of effort, intensity, team spirit, and team unity.”
He continued: “The players who participated with us in the World Cup were keen to establish these standards and the team culture, whether on or off the field. “I think this is what was tangible. Long camps give you enough time to review and analyze, hold meetings, increase training periods and spend more time together.”
Tuchel concluded his speech by saying: “The performance was characterized by ferocity and high effort. We created good momentum throughout the match, created opportunities and scored wonderful goals, so it was a very successful camp in general.”
The England national team raised its score to 9 points in second place in the group standings, three points behind the Spanish national team (leader), which has achieved the full score so far, after winning its first four matches, while the Czech national team remained without points at the bottom of the standings, while the Croatia national team occupies third place with three points.
American runner Kenny Bednarek realizes that his speed racing career will likely be over by the time of the 2036 Olympic Games, but he confirms that he will be present in the stands if India is chosen to host the largest sporting event in the world.
Bednarek, 27 years old, has a relationship with Indian golfer Sharmila Nicolet, and believes that India's enormous cultural and linguistic diversity makes it an ideal candidate to host the Olympic Games.
“Actually, I like the idea very much,” Bednarek said in a video interview with Reuters. I've always said that it would be great to have an Olympics or a world championship in India, or somewhere new around the world; Because an important part of sports is traveling and getting to know different cultures.”
He added: “India is one of the best places to achieve this. It is full of multiple languages, diverse cuisines and rich cultures. “I have visited India before, and I have an Indian partner, and every time I visit this country my admiration for its culture increases.”
Bednarek's statements came after the International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that India is among seven bidders competing to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
The most populous country in the world aspires to organize the first Olympic Games in its history, with competition including Germany, Qatar, Hungary, South Korea, South Africa and Turkey.
Los Angeles is scheduled to host the 2028 Games, before the Games move to Brisbane, Australia, in 2032.
India hopes to enhance its chances of hosting the 2036 Olympics by hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, and is also seeking to obtain the right to organize the 2038 Asian Games in the same city.
Bednarik said about the Indian ambition to host the Olympics: “It will be very exciting if India succeeds in winning the right to organize in 2036. I do not think I will be there to compete on the track, but I will certainly be present to watch the competitions from the stands.”
