Latest news with #AndreasZagklis
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
LA Olympics may be ‘good launching pad' for NBA league in Europe
The NBA's talks with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and other entities about the process of adding a new league in Europe are continuing, the game's commissioner in the United States said. Adam Silver noted it may take at least a couple more years to turn the ideas into reality, pinpointing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 as a potential 'launching pad' for another NBA competition. He was speaking on Friday – an off day for the NBA Finals – at a league event to unveil a refurbished Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma City and said it's difficult to put a specific timeline on the Europe plans. 'I will say it's measured in years, not months,' Silver said. 'So, we're at least a couple years away from launching. 'It would be an enormous undertaking. And while we want to move forward at a deliberate pace, we also want to make sure that we're consulting with all the appropriate stakeholders, meaning the existing league, its teams, European players, media companies, marketing partners. There's a lot of work to be done.' Silver and FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis announced in March that the league and the game's governing body are finally taking long-awaited steps to form a new league, with an initial target of 16 teams. The idea had been talked about for years, even decades on some levels. Silver revealed that since the NBA and FIBA went public with their idea to move forward, talks have gotten more constructive. Silver said the NBA has been talking directly with the EuroLeague and with some member clubs about a partnership. It's his preference that the NBA work with the existing league on some level, though it's still too early to say exactly what that means. 'Either way, we continue to feel there are an enormous number of underserved basketball fans in Europe and that there's a strong opportunity to have another league styled after the NBA,' Silver said. About one in every six current NBA players hails from Europe, including Denver's Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) – who have combined for five of the last seven MVP awards – along with the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama (France). The NBA's board of governors will talk more about next steps with the European plans in July, at their scheduled meeting in Las Vegas, Silver said. It's possible that the European venture could be unveiled in some way – or possibly start – around the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, given how much attention will be on international basketball at that time. 'That might be a good launching pad for an announcement around a new competition,' Silver said. Some of the cities that are expected to have interest in being part of the new venture include London, Manchester, Rome and Munich. There will be others, of course. 'We haven't had direct conversations yet,' Silver said. 'But there have been several organisations that have come forward and said they would be interested and potential owners in operating in those major markets in Europe.'
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
NBA's talks about new league in Europe are continuing, though the process remains in early stages
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The NBA's talks with FIBA and other entities about the process of adding a new league in Europe are continuing, Commissioner Adam Silver said, though he noted that it may take at least a couple more years to turn the ideas into reality. Silver spoke at a league event to unveil a refurbished Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma City on Friday — an off day for the NBA Finals — and said it's difficult to put a specific timeline on the Europe plans. 'I will say it's measured in years, not months,' Silver said. 'So, we're at least a couple years away from launching. It would be an enormous undertaking. And while we want to move forward at a deliberate pace, we also want to make sure that we're consulting with all the appropriate stakeholders, meaning the existing league, its teams, European players, media companies, marketing partners. There's a lot of work to be done.' Silver and FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis announced in March that the league and the game's governing body are finally taking long-awaited steps to form a new league, with an initial target of 16 teams. It had been talked about for years, and decades even on some levels. And since the NBA and FIBA went public with their idea to move forward, talks have gotten more constructive, Silver said. Silver said the NBA has been talking directly with the EuroLeague and with some member clubs about a partnership. It's his preference that the NBA work with the existing league on some level, though it's still too early to say exactly what that means. 'Either way, we continue to feel there are an enormous number of underserved basketball fans in Europe and that there's a strong opportunity to have another league styled after the NBA,' Silver said. About one in every six current NBA players hails from Europe, including Denver's Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) — who have combined for five of the last seven MVP awards — along with the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama (France). The NBA's board of governors will talk more about next steps with the European plans in July at their scheduled meeting in Las Vegas, Silver said. It's possible that the European venture could be unveiled in some way — or possibly start — around the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, just given how much attention will be on international basketball at that time. 'That might be a good launching pad for an announcement around a new competition,' Silver said. Some of the cities that are expected to have interest in being part of the new venture include London, Manchester, Rome and Munich. There will be others, of course. 'We haven't had direct conversations yet,' Silver said. 'But there have been several organizations that have come forward and said they would be interested and potential owners in operating in those major markets in Europe.' ___ AP NBA:
Fox Sports
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
US to open World Cup qualifying this fall against Dominican Republic and Nicaragua; 3rd team TBA
Associated Press The U.S. will open qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup in November against the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and a third nation that will be determined later this summer by the results of a pre-qualifier tournament. The groups — and 68 of the 80 nations that are in the mix for the 31 open World Cup berths — were announced at Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Qatar is the only nation to have a World Cup spot assured; it has one because it will host the tournament in the summer of 2027. The other 12 nations — eight from Europe, four from the Americas — that will play in qualifying will be determined this summer. 'The qualifiers are a special part of this journey," FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis said. "The World Cup is not a three-week event. The World Cup is in reality more than two years, as you can see. ... This is the key moment on the way to Doha.' Germany is the defending champion, having topped Serbia for the gold medal at Manila in 2023. Canada beat the U.S. in that tournament for the bronze. 'When I started playing for the German national team in the late '90s, we would have never thought this was possible — that Germany will be World Cup champions," said German great Dirk Nowitzki, the longtime Dallas Mavericks star who brought the World Cup trophy onto the stage for the draw on Tuesday night. "I think that shows the growth of basketball in Germany and the rest of the world, in Europe, all over the place. It's been fun watching basketball grow the last two decades and more. And really, anything is possible in the world now in basketball.' The Americans have won the tournament five times, but not since 2014 — after finishing a record-worst seventh at China in 2019 and missing the medal stand again at Manila in 2023. It has been a challenge for the U.S. to field its best possible team for the World Cups, given that most stars tend to prefer playing in the Olympics and many can't commit to a plan where they would be playing in a World Cup one summer and the Olympics the following year. 'I'm excited," USA Basketball great and 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinee Carmelo Anthony said. 'I think the world is excited. I think players are excited. I just think that intensity level, from what I've experienced in the previous World Cups, has shot up 10 times more than what it was before. I think the energy, I think that intentionality of the game, you see the passion of winning, not just from certain teams, you see it from all teams that are playing.' A breakdown of the qualifying by region: Americas Teams: 16 for 7 World Cup spots. First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: United States, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, TBD. Group B: Canada, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, TBD. Group C: Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, TBD. Group D: Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, TBD. (There are four teams still yet to qualify, and those teams will be determined at a pair of pre-qualifying tournaments in August.) Europe Teams: 32 for 12 World Cup spots. First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Eight groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Spain, Georgia, TBD, TBD. Group B: Greece, Montenegro, Portugal, TBD. Group C: Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, TBD. Group D: Britain, Italy, Iceland, Lithuania. Group E: Germany, Israel, Cyprus, TBD. Group F: Latvia, Poland, TBD, TBD. Group G: France, Belgium, Finland, TBD. Group H: Slovenia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia. (There are eight teams still yet to qualify, and those teams will be determined at pre-qualifying tournaments this summer.) Asia Teams: 16 for 7 World Cup spots. (Qatar already qualified as host nation, and will be the eighth World Cup team from Asia.) First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Guam. Group B: Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan. Group C: Iran, Jordan, Syria, Iraq. Group D: Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, Qatar. Africa Teams: 16 for 5 World Cup spots First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Cameroon, South Sudan, Libya, Cape Verde. Group B: Senegal, Congo, Madagascar, Ivory Coast. Group C: Nigeria, Rwanda, Guinea, Tunisia. Group D: Mali, Angola, Uganda, Egypt. ___ AP sports: in this topic
Hamilton Spectator
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
US to open World Cup qualifying this fall against Dominican Republic and Nicaragua; 3rd team TBA
The U.S. will open qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup in November against the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and a third nation that will be determined later this summer by the results of a pre-qualifier tournament. The groups — and 68 of the 80 nations that are in the mix for the 31 open World Cup berths — were announced at Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Qatar is the only nation to have a World Cup spot assured; it has one because it will host the tournament in the summer of 2027. The other 12 nations — eight from Europe, four from the Americas — that will play in qualifying will be determined this summer. 'The qualifiers are a special part of this journey,' FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis said. 'The World Cup is not a three-week event. The World Cup is in reality more than two years, as you can see. ... This is the key moment on the way to Doha.' Germany is the defending champion, having topped Serbia for the gold medal at Manila in 2023. Canada beat the U.S. in that tournament for the bronze. 'When I started playing for the German national team in the late '90s, we would have never thought this was possible — that Germany will be World Cup champions,' said German great Dirk Nowitzki, the longtime Dallas Mavericks star who brought the World Cup trophy onto the stage for the draw on Tuesday night. 'I think that shows the growth of basketball in Germany and the rest of the world, in Europe, all over the place. It's been fun watching basketball grow the last two decades and more. And really, anything is possible in the world now in basketball.' The Americans have won the tournament five times, but not since 2014 — after finishing a record-worst seventh at China in 2019 and missing the medal stand again at Manila in 2023. It has been a challenge for the U.S. to field its best possible team for the World Cups, given that most stars tend to prefer playing in the Olympics and many can't commit to a plan where they would be playing in a World Cup one summer and the Olympics the following year. 'I'm excited,' USA Basketball great and 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinee Carmelo Anthony said. 'I think the world is excited. I think players are excited. I just think that intensity level, from what I've experienced in the previous World Cups, has shot up 10 times more than what it was before. I think the energy, I think that intentionality of the game, you see the passion of winning, not just from certain teams, you see it from all teams that are playing.' A breakdown of the qualifying by region: Americas Teams: 16 for 7 World Cup spots. First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: United States, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, TBD. Group B: Canada, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, TBD. Group C: Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, TBD. Group D: Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, TBD. (There are four teams still yet to qualify, and those teams will be determined at a pair of pre-qualifying tournaments in August.) Europe Teams: 32 for 12 World Cup spots. First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Eight groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Spain, Georgia, TBD, TBD. Group B: Greece, Montenegro, Portugal, TBD. Group C: Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, TBD. Group D: Britain, Italy, Iceland, Lithuania. Group E: Germany, Israel, Cyprus, TBD. Group F: Latvia, Poland, TBD, TBD. Group G: France, Belgium, Finland, TBD. Group H: Slovenia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia. (There are eight teams still yet to qualify, and those teams will be determined at pre-qualifying tournaments this summer.) Asia Teams: 16 for 7 World Cup spots. (Qatar already qualified as host nation, and will be the eighth World Cup team from Asia.) First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Guam. Group B: Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan. Group C: Iran, Jordan, Syria, Iraq. Group D: Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, Qatar. Africa Teams: 16 for 5 World Cup spots First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Cameroon, South Sudan, Libya, Cape Verde. Group B: Senegal, Congo, Madagascar, Ivory Coast. Group C: Nigeria, Rwanda, Guinea, Tunisia. Group D: Mali, Angola, Uganda, Egypt. ___ AP sports:
San Francisco Chronicle
13-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
US to open World Cup qualifying this fall against Dominican Republic and Nicaragua; 3rd team TBA
The U.S. will open qualifying for the 2027 Basketball World Cup in November against the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and a third nation that will be determined later this summer by the results of a pre-qualifier tournament. The groups — and 68 of the 80 nations that are in the mix for the 31 open World Cup berths — were announced at Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Qatar is the only nation to have a World Cup spot assured; it has one because it will host the tournament in the summer of 2027. The other 12 nations — eight from Europe, four from the Americas — that will play in qualifying will be determined this summer. 'The qualifiers are a special part of this journey," FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis said. "The World Cup is not a three-week event. The World Cup is in reality more than two years, as you can see. ... This is the key moment on the way to Doha.' Germany is the defending champion, having topped Serbia for the gold medal at Manila in 2023. Canada beat the U.S. in that tournament for the bronze. 'When I started playing for the German national team in the late '90s, we would have never thought this was possible — that Germany will be World Cup champions," said German great Dirk Nowitzki, the longtime Dallas Mavericks star who brought the World Cup trophy onto the stage for the draw on Tuesday night. "I think that shows the growth of basketball in Germany and the rest of the world, in Europe, all over the place. It's been fun watching basketball grow the last two decades and more. And really, anything is possible in the world now in basketball.' The Americans have won the tournament five times, but not since 2014 — after finishing a record-worst seventh at China in 2019 and missing the medal stand again at Manila in 2023. It has been a challenge for the U.S. to field its best possible team for the World Cups, given that most stars tend to prefer playing in the Olympics and many can't commit to a plan where they would be playing in a World Cup one summer and the Olympics the following year. 'I'm excited," USA Basketball great and 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinee Carmelo Anthony said. 'I think the world is excited. I think players are excited. I just think that intensity level, from what I've experienced in the previous World Cups, has shot up 10 times more than what it was before. I think the energy, I think that intentionality of the game, you see the passion of winning, not just from certain teams, you see it from all teams that are playing.' Americas Teams: 16 for 7 World Cup spots. First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: United States, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, TBD. Group B: Canada, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, TBD. Group C: Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, TBD. Group D: Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, TBD. (There are four teams still yet to qualify, and those teams will be determined at a pair of pre-qualifying tournaments in August.) Europe Teams: 32 for 12 World Cup spots. First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Eight groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Spain, Georgia, TBD, TBD. Group B: Greece, Montenegro, Portugal, TBD. Group C: Serbia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, TBD. Group D: Britain, Italy, Iceland, Lithuania. Group E: Germany, Israel, Cyprus, TBD. Group F: Latvia, Poland, TBD, TBD. Group G: France, Belgium, Finland, TBD. Group H: Slovenia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Estonia. (There are eight teams still yet to qualify, and those teams will be determined at pre-qualifying tournaments this summer.) Asia First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, November 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Guam. Group B: Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan. Group C: Iran, Jordan, Syria, Iraq. Group D: Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, India, Qatar. Africa Teams: 16 for 5 World Cup spots First-round qualifying dates: November 2025, February 2026, July 2026. Second-round qualifying dates: August 2026, February 2027. Format: Four groups of four teams in the first round (six games per team). The top three teams from each group will move on to the second round. Group A: Cameroon, South Sudan, Libya, Cape Verde. Group B: Senegal, Congo, Madagascar, Ivory Coast. Group C: Nigeria, Rwanda, Guinea, Tunisia. Group D: Mali, Angola, Uganda, Egypt. ___
