Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Euroleague Basketball held a preseason press conference in its new host city, Dubai. CEO Paulius Motiejunas addressed key topics, particularly the league’s future and its position in the global basketball scene, striking a confident tone about its independent growth.
The main takeaway was Motiejunas’s clear message: the EuroLeague is focused on strengthening its own brand and is not distracted by potential competition, such as the rumored “NBA Europe” league. He emphasized that the EuroLeague is already the top basketball product in Europe and is successfully expanding its presence into new markets like the Middle East.
📈 Focusing on Internal Growth
Paulius Motiejunas stated that the league’s priority is its own development, not competing with others. “We’re focused on growth. We’re not focused on the competition,” he explained. He welcomed any organization that wants to help grow the sport of basketball, but made it clear that the EuroLeague will continue to lead its own path. He noted that the league is open to discussions but is not waiting for outside direction.
🏆 A League on the Rise
Motiejunas backed his confidence with strong performance indicators. He pointed out that the EuroLeague is seeing improvements across the board, with “better numbers in TV revenue, sponsorship, and attendance.” This success reinforces its status as Europe’s premier basketball league and its ability to attract new partners and fans. The expansion into Dubai is a clear example of this forward momentum.
🤝 Dubai’s Strategic Move
The decision for a Dubai-based team to join the Euroleague ecosystem was also a key topic. Dubai CEO Dejan Kamenjasevic explained why they chose to partner with the EuroLeague now instead of waiting for other potential opportunities like NBA Europe. He described it as a practical choice, saying, “It’s an opportunity, and we took it.” For Dubai, joining the established and growing EuroLeague was a real and immediate step forward, rather than waiting for a project that is not yet a reality.
