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In addition to the new stadium, AC Milan and Inter could collaborate on another project: bringing an NBA franchise to the city.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, an NBA league will launch in Europe in two years, with European teams and an American organisation. Milan and Inter are aiming to play a role in a Milanese franchise, which the NBA is determined to establish.
It is big news for a quiet week in October. The plan isn’t entirely new, but the NBA has significantly changed their approach in recent days: they are openly discussing things, even with journalists, and made it clear they want to move forward quickly.
Milan and Inter keen
The first tip-off of the new European league is scheduled for fall 2027. As for Milan and Inter, the game is wide open and complex. The NBA want a team in Rome and one in Milan.
Commissioner Adam Silver, representing Milan, has been in conversation for some time with Gerry Cardinale, founder of the RedBird Capital fund that owns Milan. Inter, through Oaktree, have the dossier on the table and is equally interested in the nascent business.
It’s decidedly too early to know how it will end, especially since Olimpia Milano and the Armani company, which has every intention of continuing to play basketball even after the passing of King Giorgio, will play a key role in the game.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum discussed the NBA Europe project in a conference call with some 60 international media outlets, including La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tatum clarified that the idea is to begin ‘in two years, obviously if the FIBA board and the NBA owners’ board approve the project’.
His most significant quotes: “The initial plan is to have permanent teams in 10-12 cities, primarily in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. Perhaps in Turkey and Greece. We’re envisioning a mix of existing teams, new teams, and soccer teams that also want to invest in basketball.
“In addition to the permanent teams, in this initial phase there will be four slots that will be assigned annually, transparently, based on sporting merit. This is the beginning, but we hope to double the number of permanent teams in seven to ten years so that other countries can also be involved.”
Joining the League will cost €250-€500m (a lot). Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Fenerbahçe are reportedly almost certain to join.
The first question concerns the relationship with the Euroleague. Will there be a merger? Will it lead to a clash? Tatum responded: “We believe that in the basketball system we envision, there’s room for every club in Europe, including those in the Euroleague.
“We believe there’s a way to achieve this; we’ll continue to work with FIBA and the Euroleague to find a solution.” In short, for now, tensions between the two giants of global basketball aren’t rising.
RedBird and Oaktree: Collaborators or competitors?
The Rossoneri and the Nerazzurri’s respective ownerships will soon be called upon to decide, but the impression is that Cardinale has made the first move. Two days ago, NBA commissioner Adam Silver was a guest at the RedBird general meeting in New York.
It was also attended by president Paolo Scaroni, CEO Giorgio Furlani and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic. This shows a consolidated relationship, and Cardinale already spoke in 2022 about an ownership with franchises in multiple sports.
It’s worth remembering that LeBron James – at the time of the closing between Elliott Management and RedBird – became a passive investor in Milan, owning shares in Main Street Advisors.
Inter, on the other hand, can count on Oaktree, which is headquartered in Los Angeles and are second to none in terms of financial resources and connections. They’re interested and will certainly play their cards.
Will a derby arise to manage the Milanese NBA Europe franchise, or will Milan and Inter co-operate? Will the new franchise be an alternative to Olimpia, or will the two entities – one history, one brand new – be one? No one knows, not even the NBA. What’s certain is the next two months will be decisive.
English (US) ·