Jordi Bertomeu: 'Clubs that go to BCL will never play in the EuroLeague' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu met with the media representatives in a press conference where he covered the relationship between FIBA and EuroLeague and schedule clashes because of FIBA windows.

"I think that, as you know, right after the Olympics, we opened a conversation with FIBA to explore ways to improve things," Bertomeu said. "It's still pending what the list of things that can be improved. Probably the fact that the NBA at a certain point has been involved in this conversation is something that can help or not, but I don't believe that Europe cannot solve its problems by ourselves."

"I think it's our responsibility to define what we want for European basketball. We, as the Euroleague, have the main responsibility, and of course, FIBA also has responsibility. If the conversation always goes to the windows, with all due respect, in general, I think this is a poor conversation because I think the window is not the most relevant thing in the world.

I think you don't need me to explain what I believe about the windows and why I believe that the fact EuroLeague respects the window is not going to solve the problems of the national teams' competition.

I think this is obvious, it's well known, and I don't need to expand more on this. But again, if the conversation is about the windows, it's a very short conversation. I don't think this is the problem," Bertomeu continued.

The EuroLeague CEO also suggested which problems are more important in comparison to FIBA windows.

"I think we have more problems to tackle, I think we can work more on promotion. I think we have more responsibility in trying to address the structure of the competition," Bertomeu argued. "I have to say that there are still some things that are not working properly because when you have teams that when they finish the domestic leagues, they have to think are we going right to Champions League or left to EuroCup, this is something that is not normal, is not good."

"Also, because those decisions always go together with pressure from the federations, and we never wanted to play this game, but it doesn't mean that we don't believe this is something that has to be addressed. So probably this will be a more interesting conversation, probably more useful for the future of European basketball.

But this is maybe, but I think we can add other topics on top of this traditional topic of the windows. Because again, the window's conversation is a very short one.

I don't see the solution to the national teams' competition by convincing the EuroLeague teams to respect windows when we have the calendar we know. And yet, we still know that the best players will not be on the court for the reasons that everybody knows, and FIBA has no problem with this. So why do we have to be a part of this?" Bertomeu questioned the current situation.

More importantly, Bertomeu was very clear that if the clubs seeking the place in the EuroLeague will eventually choose the Champions League, they will never be able to play in the EuroLeague.

"I am not afraid of anything," Bertomeu said after being asked about competition between EuroLeague and FIBA. "The concept of a closed league is a concept I didn't mention. I said that we want to have 18 owners. There is nothing wrong with still having two spots for the EuroCup."

"It is not something that cannot be incompatible with what I said. Basically, clubs that go to play in the Basketball Champions League, what they know is that they are not going to play ever in the EuroLeague.

So I don't see what's the advantage of moving in this direction. Because, finally, if the goal is to play the EuroLeague, the wrong way is to go to the Champions League because then it is by definition impossible," Bertomeu concluded.

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