FIBA's Andreas Zagklis explains how a deal with EuroLeague was reached / News - Basketnews.com

FIBA took multiple steps to establish trust and credibility that later allowed it to strike a deal with the EuroLeague that will allow top players to represent their national teams during the season.

Credit: Alberto Nevado/Federación Española de Baloncesto Credit Alberto Nevado/Federación Española de Baloncesto

The war between FIBA and EuroLeague was a hot topic throughout the 2022-23 season. It culminated with the organizations reaching a deal that makes sure the top players from the continent participate in the FIBA windows.

EuroLeague and FIBA games will not overlap in the 2023-24 season, giving competitors the opportunity to represent their national teams and their clubs fully.

In an interview with Sport24, FIBA's Secretary General Andreas Zagklis explained how the long process until the final agreement was reached went down.

"This is a matter of credibility and trust," Zagklis began. "Our leagues understood that we work for everyone, not just for the national teams or the national federations. The first goal was to get closer to the teams. The teams understood that FIBA ​​invests in the BCL, takes care of the calendar."

"ULEB asked us for some things that the EuroLeague teams also wanted. We took some steps back without being at the negotiating table because we knew it was good for the sport. The upcoming World Cup starts a week earlier than the previous one because the European leagues and clubs asked us to," the operative said.

Zagklis emphasized that FIBA had to earn the trust of all organizations involved. As such, it took multiple steps to achieve the ultimate goal. In the process, FIBA had to allow some things to happen that were previously not available for the parties involved.

"We gave leagues more dates to finish their championships before the Olympic tournament," he continued. "This means that in the second phase, we started to build our trust in addition to the credibility that we are willing to put a little water in our wine because we care about the sport."

This summer, the EuroLeague appointed a new CEO, Paulius Motiejunas, replacing Marshall Glickman, who took over the job from Jordi Bertomeu last year. Zagklis thinks that it's now the right moment for both organizations to work together fully.

"At the same time, with COVID-19, we took measures that also helped the EuroLeague teams. So we work for everyone. The third [step] was to sit at the table, this is the most difficult phase, and at the same time, it found us as a European basketball family in a transition phase mainly for the teams," Zagklis said about the change of CEOs. "They have a new president that we know, and I think at this stage, we can cash in on the moves of credibility and trust that FIBA ​​has made and, at the same time, listen to what our teams want."

"What we have seen now, which is the first small step after 20 years, is the beginning. There will be other discussions, we are willing to discuss a number of things. At the same time, we have already made a series of many retreats. In other words, we don't have much room [for more change] yet, but our intention to find a solution is clear," the operative concluded.

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