Pau Gasol, who became a global ambassador for FIBA shortly after concluding his professional career, is now a prominent figure in the NBA Europe project, slated for launch in 2027. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, he once again championed the initiative.
Regarding the project in general:
“NBA Europe is not just a proposal; I believe it will become a reality. It’s a project to implement a necessary model for growing our sport in Europe. It’s a model that will not only be sustainable—which hasn’t been the case in recent years, I don’t know how many—but also a growth model for teams in our sport at the highest level.”
On the desired impact:
“The goal is also to impact the entire ecosystem, from NBA Europe to any other European league, national leagues, youth programs, federations, etc. Thus, the entire ecosystem will benefit from the implementation and support of this model. Obviously, I see the NBA’s presence as a strong alliance, particularly in bringing significant investment and value to the teams in our sport.”
On the fans:
“With this new league, the objective is to elevate and improve the fan experience at basketball games. I think we have an opportunity, and it will be very important to find a balance between the passion, loyalty, and culture of sport in Europe with the entertainment and quality of sporting events that this new league will bring. Additionally, there will be the construction of new arenas where the fan experience will be far better than anything they have experienced before.”
