The EuroLeague Wants to Take Over the ABA League: Regional Basketball Enters the War With NBA Europe

The EuroLeague wants into the ABA League's ownership

The EuroLeague is considering entering the ownership structure of the ABA League, with the long-term goal of becoming its majority owner. According to Sportklub, that was the main topic of Friday's meeting between the EuroLeague leadership and the clubs that formally own the regional league. Dubai and Cluj-Napoca were also at the table, even though neither club is part of the ABA League's ownership group. The talks are at an early stage, with no formal negotiations, and the motive isn't love for the region but fear of NBA Europe. EuroLeague people already sit in key positions at the ABA: Ibrahim Ercan is sports director, and Miguel Ángel Pérez heads the Referees Commission. When the big players start buying regional leagues, do the small clubs get a partner or a boss?

LeBron in Philadelphia: 41 years old, limited minutes and maybe center

LeBron James could play significantly less in his first season with Philadelphia. Doctors from The Sports Rehab Show podcast, taking into account the chronic arthritis in his left foot and his sciatica, estimate that coach Nick Nurse will keep him to 28 to 32 minutes a game. That is only an outside estimate, not a club decision, but the numbers are on its side: last season with the Lakers LeBron had the fewest minutes of his career, 33.2 in 60 games. The problem is that after Ariel Hukporti's Achilles tendon injury, the 41-year-old LeBron may have to play at center too. With Joel Embiid also being managed game to game, the load falls on Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe.

Crvena Zvezda want Petrušev back from Dubai's bench

Filip Petrušev has lost his place in Dubai's rotation and didn't play in the fourth round of the EuroLeague either - against, ironically, Crvena Zvezda. According to Greek journalist Sotiris Vetakis, it is the Belgrade club now fighting hardest to bring him back, even though they were also offered Richaun Holmes. Milan Tomić and Miloš Teodosić are personally handling the return. The numbers explain why: in Dubai Petrušev has 3.3 points and 3 rebounds in almost 11 minutes, while in the 2024/25 season, on loan from Olympiacos at Zvezda, he had the best season of his career with 14.1 points and a 16.5 performance index rating. Some players simply grow only in one particular city.

Rabotnički flatten Tikveš by halftime

In the second round of the Macedonian Super League, Rabotnički beat Tikveš 86:70 at the "Lazar Lečić" hall in the City Park. The game was decided by the break, when the hosts led by a convincing 23 points. Top scorer was Efremovski with 24 points, Rikić had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Govens 12 points and 11 assists. In Kumanovo, the hosts got their first win, 70:59 against newcomers Štip, despite trailing by 10 points in the third quarter.

MZT survive Gevgelija, Stojanovski is back

Champions MZT Skopje Aerodrom recorded their second win of the season, 81:73 at Kožuv in Gevgelija. The hosts won the first quarter 26:18, but by halftime Aerodrom already led 43:42, and in the third quarter they pulled away by as much as 14 points. Andrej Maslinko and Nikolić scored 19 points each. The best news for MZT, though, isn't the result but the return of national team player Vojdan Stojanovski from injury - he finished with nine points, as many as Bošaleski. It was the only away win of the four games played in the round, which says how hard a trip to Gevgelija is, even for the champions.