Partizan GM Savic: 'We deserve EuroLeague more than some teams with guaranteed license' / News - Basketnews.com

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The moment Zeljko Obradovic said yes to Zoran Savic and Ostoja Mijailovic, the long-term goal for Partizan Belgrade was very clear. However, the current European basketball situation concerns Partizan's general manager Savic, who had his ideas how EuroLeague could handle some money issues they're facing.

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Partizan have two ways to make their EuroLeague comeback after eight years without the top European competition.

It's either by advancing to the EuroCup final (unless Monaco makes the EuroLeague playoffs, winning the EuroCup will be obligatory) or winning the Adriatic League.

Which way seems more reasonable for Partizan?

"I prefer series," Zoran Savic said in an interview with BasketNews.

In the EuroCup, the champion is decided in a single-game final. In ABA League, the final is played as a best of five series.

Savic likes the new EuroCup format with 20 teams divided into two groups of 10 clubs. But according to Partizan's GM, the playoffs system could be improved.

"I think the format is beautiful. But I think if we start the season a little bit earlier, we have a chance to play the best of three games, not just a single game," Savic said.

"The problem of a single game final is that something might happen. For example, coronavirus. If somebody gets a fever, you might miss the whole season because you play four finals to go to the EuroLeague," he added. "I think the format is good. Just putting playoff series... Maybe best of 3 would be perfect from quarterfinals."

Also, the playoff series would help EuroCup teams financially.

"Single-game final is a financial disaster. In playoffs, you can have 20k fans every game. For us, it's losing a lot of money. It's a disaster to play just one game for us," Savic assured.

Money issues that Europe is facing is another hot topic Zoran Savic had something to say.

Free throws this season

81%17,2Points made:17,2Accuracy:81,1%Place in standings:3Record max:24Record min:11Most made FTs:Kevin PunterTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

When Savic signed with FC Barcelona in 2000-01, basketball players were paid best in the entire sports department.

He remembers how Toni Kukoc made around $3M in Benetton Treviso 30 years ago. Now it would be equivalent to $6M.

"Players make less money now than 30 years ago. What are we talking about?" Savic claimed.

"Basketball was the worst-selling sport in the last 30 years. In the 90s, TV rights in Italy were worth like €5M. 30 years ago it was maybe€10M now. The last season that I played basketball (2002), they were paying €100k for all the competition. And you're asking why basketball is now in this situation? It's completely TV rights. If you have TV rights, you have everything," Savic said BasketNews.

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Savic went in-depth analyzing the TV rights and ticketing situation in Europe.

He thinks that Partizan have a slight advantage over other clubs currently competing in the EuroLeague.

"Partizan deserve EuroLeague more than some teams who already play here and have guaranteed license," he claimed.

Savic explains why.

First of all, he thinks that Serbian TV rights are more valuable than in some other countries.

"The situation with TV rights is a disaster right now. I saw clubs always complaining that the situation was very difficult in the EuroLeague. What made things worse was covid, which destroyed everything," Savic stated.

"TV is the key. What you're getting from three Russian teams? €300k? And you have one team in Serbia with Serbian TV paying around €1M," Savic said in an interview with BasketNews that took place before the war in Ukraine.

"What French teams bring? Even IMG is losing money with the French clubs because their TV gives zero euros. You get more money from the Serbian TV than with two teams playing the EuroLeague from France," he added.

"TV rights make the difference in the NBA. They're putting in more and more money. Because ticketing is limited," Savic continued with another topic.

Savic feels Partizan would rank among the best EuroLeague teams in ticket sales.

"It's not the same to sell tickets in Italy. For example, Virtus fans pay €500 for the first row. In Barcelona, the best seats for all-season cost maybe €300. I think we make more money from ticketing in Partizan than Barcelona," Savic said.

"If you look at the investment of the Spanish clubs, they come from football. They can do this. I worked in Barcelona. I know what's the situation there. Money is coming from football. They centralize everything," Savic assured.

"We have something in these basketball countries. You have Zalgiris, and they bring 12-15k people no matter you play bad or good. They start the season 0-5, but fans still come to the arena. Because they love basketball, and they want to see kids fighting. This is the most important," Savic explained.

"Maccabi received €12M from ticketing. ALBA had around €4M. If we play in the EuroLeague, we could be the third club in ticketing money," Savic insists.

Partizan still draws big crowds to Belgrade's Aleksandar Nikolic Hall and Stark Arena during the EuroCup games.

However, Savic said that playing in the EuroCup brings other challenges.

"Everybody is losing money in the EuroCup. We lose the money," Savic confirmed. "It's not the same as to have 17 games playing against Real, Barcelona, Zalgiris. It's easier to make budgets if you play in the EuroLeague."

"It's also difficult because you don't know what competition you'll play the next season. Now you have to sign players for the next season. But which players? What competition do we play? What can you offer to the player?" Savic raised questions. "Usually, players are willing to sign for less money in the EuroLeague than EuroCup. You need to offer them a project. This is the only way."

"However, the situation with the EuroLeague is not easy. Even if we win the EuroCup next season, who knows what the clubs will decide? Maybe they will decide to have 16 teams, and no EuroCup team will go to the EuroLeague? I think the situation is very critical. Everybody needs to look at what's the best for the future," Savic added.

When the EuroLeague monitors a potential expansion to big markets like London, Paris, or Germany, Savic suggests getting back to the roots.

"I think they need to connect the tradition. It's crucial for the fans. For example, in Italy, they played basketball only in small cities. Varese had 60k people when they won the EuroLeague. The same with Cantu," Savic recalled.

"In football, it's impossible. Maybe it was 30-40 years ago, but now it's impossible. EuroLeague tries to go to big cities, big markets. But big markets are for football, not basketball," Savic concluded.

Read the first part of the BasketNews interview with Zoran Savic.

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