Kenny Atkinson, on NBA Europe: “Players will earn more money and have more opportunities”

Kenny Atkinson blesses NBA Europe. The coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers highlighted the positive impact that the new European NBA league can have on its participation in the event of promising young people Basketball Without Borders (BWB) which is being held in Istanbul these days until this Saturday, August 29.

“With NBA Europe and in collaboration with FIBA, I think we will be even closer to the players, especially the Europeans. We already have a good relationship, but this is different. We will probably be able to better evaluate the players and strengthen ties with the clubs,” Atkinson said in statements reported by the Turkish media. Sozcu.

“While we already have a good relationship with the clubs, having the NBA logo in the league certainly improves things. I think this is also fantastic for the players, it’s really incredible. Obviously, I think there will be an economic boost. The players will make more money and have more opportunities under the NBA umbrella. I don’t see any negative aspects,” the Cavs coach also said.

Atkinson is one of the prominent NBA figures participating in this Basketball Without Borders along with others such as Vlade Divac and Danilo Gallinari. The BWB brings together the best 78 promises between 16 and 18 years old from 44 countries. Eghosa Odejea 6-foot-6, 16-year-old center, attends the Prolific Prep academy in Florida and plays for the Alabama Fusion.

Atkinson is also another Spanish representative as he has a passport from the country. The Cavaliers coach is married to a woman from Seville and played in Spain between 1993 and 1997, passing through Real Canoe, Vino de Toro Zamora, CB Salamanca -where Pedro Martínez It made him debut in ACB-, and CB Aguas de Calpe.

Kenny Atkinson is just one more of the current NBA figures who publicly show their support for NBA Europe. Some current stars have even gotten involved in the new European league or have expressed their intention to do so. Luka Doncic is part of the investment group that bought the Italian Vanoli Cremona to move it to Rome and participate in NBA Europe, while Kevin Durant He told MD that he was ready to get involved in PSG’s NBA Europe project. The Houston Rockets star is a minority shareholder in the Parisian club.

For its part, Giannis Antetokounmpo He told the media at the All-Star that he would like to be the owner of a franchise and Devin Booker -in this case also MD-, that he considers coaching a team in the new European NBA league.

NBA Europe plans to start in October 2027so the next few months are presumed to be crucial for the final steps for the project to materialize.

The NBA and FIBA ​​are in negotiations with the Euroleague. The American league has stated that it is ready to move forward with its project even without the organization it directs Chus Buenoalthough he has stressed that the priority is to reach an agreement with which to go hand in hand.

The NBA also has to announce the teams that will begin the competition as permanent members in each of the 12 target cities: Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Paris, Lyon, Rome, Milan, Manchester, London, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Istanbul.

The NBA Board of Governors met in Las Vegas in mid-July to review NBA Europe’s second round of investor offers, which were not yet binding. The American league led by Adam Silver He held meetings with investors in New York last month at the World Cup final and sources close to the process indicate that the next key date for the European project is the Board of Governors that will also take place in the Big Apple in mid-September.

According to these same sources, there has been a lot of activity during these weeks both in terms of conversations with NBA Europe franchise investors and with the Euroleague. There have also been several meetings with clubs and leagues. Adam Silver said in July that there are already favorites for each of the 12 target cities including several clubs from basketball and soccer existing.