Monaco GM, Against NBA Europe: "I See Hidden Risks"

Over the past few months, the possibility of an expansion of the NBA into the Old Continent has greatly increased. Adam Silver, the commissioner of the American league, has been pushing forward the project of creating a new competition as an alternative to the EuroLeague: an NBA Europe. However, while some clubs are interested, others are strongly opposed, such as Monaco.

This growing interest of the NBA in expanding to Europe has reignited the debate on the future of basketball on the continent. One of the most critical voices has been Oleksiy Yefimov, the GM of Monaco, who warned that such a project could jeopardize the stability and cohesion that the EuroLeague has been trying to establish in recent years.

In an interview with Nice Matin, Yefimov acknowledged that the interest of the American league and American investors is a sign of the value that European basketball has reached, but he also cautioned about the risks of moving forward without a common strategy:

“The fact that the NBA and foreign companies are looking at European basketball is undoubtedly a positive sign. It means we have created an attractive product. However, when I analyze the situation from the perspective of the European ecosystem, I see more hidden risks than real opportunities,” said the Monegasque executive.

According to Yefimov, the main danger lies in the loss of unity among clubs and fans. In his view, the NBA's entry with a parallel league could fragment the market, dilute talent, and reduce the autonomy of European institutions: 

“What European basketball has mostly lacked in recent years is unity,” he warned. “And I have the impression that the NBA's focus is on a few select clubs, which could create unnecessary tensions within the EuroLeague.”

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Lack of Clarity and Uncertain Model

The executive from Monaco also emphasized that the NBA Europe project still lacks specific details: no figures, format, or a clear vision of how it could benefit basketball on the continent: “So far, no clear models have been presented that demonstrate how this new league would improve revenue generation, fan growth, or sport monetization. Without a defined structure, the risk of confusion and loss of identity is too high.”

For Yefimov, the priority should be to strengthen the EuroLeague, ensure its economic sustainability, and increase its base of shareholder clubs. Instead of looking outward, he suggests looking inward: solidify the product and expand competition: “Honestly, I doubt that Europe is ready for another league. The NBA’s entry could divide fans, reduce commercial opportunities, and weaken clubs' control over their own structures.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El GM del Mónaco, en contra de la NBA Europa: "Veo riesgos ocultos"