The new EuroLeague season just started, and there's a lot of curiosity about what might happen on the court. But in the next two years, the future of EuroLeague and European basketball might change drastically. BasketNews tried to answer some of the biggest questions about the EuroLeague's business: the deal with IMG, the shadow of the NBA, and more.
The EuroLeague season has just begun, and there is certainly no shortage of curiosity as to which teams will be the stars this season. Will Ergin Ataman's Panathinaikos be able to reconfirm themselves after winning the title last season?
Will rivals Olympiacos be able to challenge them for the final victory? Will Fenerbahce and Anadolu Efes have a chance to win?
What surprises might we see? There is certainly no shortage of questions on the court, but there are more complex questions concerning the very existence of EuroLeague in the near future.
The multi-year licenses of EuroLeague clubs will expire in 2026, and so will the current 10-year agreement with financial giant IMG.
In the two years between now and that date, enough changes may occur to forever change the future of the EuroLeague as we know it today.
Not only could new financial partners get involved, but the NBA is also increasingly confident that it is entering the European basketball scene, which could permanently shift the balance of basketball in Europe.
Therefore, BasketNews decided to answer a few questions about the future of Europe's top competition, starting with the relationship between IMG and EuroLeague and ending with possible involvement in the NBA.
EuroLeague and IMG: What does the future hold?
In 2016, when EuroLeague and IMG decided to join forces to commercially grow the competition, EuroLeague's revenue was around €35 million per season.
According to some recent estimates, the revenue figure would now rise to around
Try BN+ for free here!
