EuroLeague's president Dejan Bodiroga talks about expansion, F4 format, relations with FIBA and NBA

Dejan Bodiroga, EuroLeague's president, talked at the "Festival dello Sport" in Trento about the league's present and future. “We always try to bring something new to EuroLeague. I like this job, I'm comfortable with it. We try to work together with the presidents of the clubs. The quality of the players that is always higher. The Euroleague is a unique tournament. Having two Italian clubs is important for us. Do I see them as competitive? Certainly. Without a doubt, ours is the second tournament in the world after the NBA. Thanks to the clubs that in the past 24 years have been the locomotive of the movement and whose trust I feel. The level is always higher also because of the return to Europe from the NBA of several players. Plus we can count on the passion for the fans.” 

Also among the topics addressed was the possibility of expansion and the Final Four format
“The 18 teams at the moment is fine but we are open to new projects. Several realities would like to come to take us to the next level. Dubai has shown interest, of course we are looking for new markets for our basketball product. We want to create an innovative model, but it has to be studied and thought out well. Change the Final Four format? Our motto is: "every game counts". The Final Four makes the Euroleague unique.” And on relations with the NBA and FIBA he adds, “With the NBA [relations] are good and can be inspiring. With FIBA after absence of relations, now we have some. To dialogue, however, one must be two.”

[via L'Adige]