Alec Peters hopes for a gigantic EuroLeague expansion / News - Basketnews.com

Alec Peters wants to see the EuroLeague expand to more big markets which will lead to a greater number of regular season games.

Credit: Olympiacos BC Credit Olympiacos BC

Over the course of the past weeks, we've seen many coaches and players argue that the basketball season is too long and that the calendar must be shortened for them to take some rest.

Alec Peters

MIN:13.46PTS:4.7 (46.81%)REB:2.5As:0.2ST:0.4BL:0.3TO:0.8GM:10ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

However, it looks like things don't work the same way for everyone.

However, Alec Peters, Olympiacos Piraeus' EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA) representative, has a different opinion.

Peters, officially elected on the Players' Board during ELPA General Assembly before the current season, is looking forward to an extended EuroLeague season that will include more teams and (much) more games.

"I believe that Euroleague will continue to grow and have more than 20 teams in the best and biggest markets in Europe and nearby," the American forward said in an interview with ELPA's website.

Peters added that he expects there will be "about 60-70 regular season games and then the full playoffs."

"No more long, drawn-out seasons with periods of downtime," he continued. "Standards will be raised even more in terms of travel conditions, gameplay, scheduling, and infrastructure.

If you believe you are the best basketball product in Europe, then you need to own it. And I think the EuroLeague can get there."

Recently, coach Giannis Sfairopoulos revealed that some discussions among members of the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board revolve around a potential five-month EuroLeague season, which would allow everyone to focus on their domestic leagues come spring.

On the other hand, if the EuroLeague were to expand even more and prolong the season to 60 games, including best-of-five playoff series from the quarter-finals to the finals, it would be hard to imagine those teams competing in their respective domestic leagues.

Olympiacos Piraeus / Schedule

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Olympiacos Piraeus90-84 Olympiacos Piraeus ALBA Berlin86-76 Anadolu Efes Istanbul Olympiacos Piraeus12-0117:30

Alec Peters thinks players should be part of the decision-making, and in some instances, they "need to be given the power to make changes and decisions" that can work.

"Players nowadays are smarter than they get credit for, and sometimes it gets overlooked how credible and informed we are," he pointed out.

The 2019 EuroLeague champ recalled the biggest differences and challenges he first met coming to Europe for CSKA Moscow in 2018.

"When I arrived, I tried not to have too many expectations," he said.

"I knew everything would be new to me, and I didn't want to make any assumptions. I just wanted to get into the routine as fast as possible. The big differences I noticed were things like going to the grocery store, getting to practice every day, and having to ask for translation for a number of things."

Peters has played in Russia, Turkey, Spain, and now Greece.

"Each one had a different feel and love for the basketball and the players," he stressed.

However, his last stop has something he hasn't found anywhere else.

"Here in Greece, I feel the love on such a larger stage than I have ever felt before. The supporters and fans have been remarkable towards me and welcomed me from the day I signed up to play here.

Good or bad, the love for Olympiacos in Greece is unmatched. It just makes it infinitely better when the team is winning and aiming for championships."

Peters, 29,still remembers his very first road game as a EuroLeague player.

"It was when I was playing for CSKA Moscow, and we traveled to Tel Aviv for my first away game. The arena might not be the biggest, but I'll never forget the first time I experienced a crowd that was loud from start to finish. I remember going to the free throw line in that game, and I thought the basket was shaking.

I had never seen a crowd like that. Since then, I've been a part of some great atmospheres."

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