Bayern keen on NBA Europe but conditions must be right - president
· Yahoo Sports
Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer says the basketball section of the sports club still wants to be involved in the new NBA Europe but any deal must be right for the franchise.
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NBA Europe is set to start in October 2027 as an offshoot of the North American league.
In addition to the 12 fixed starting teams, four further clubs are expected to qualify via the existing Champions League. It is still unclear what will happen with the Euroleague, which has so far been the most important European league in basketball.
Bayern are among a number of sports clubs in Europe which have famous football and basketball brands, with Hainer believing this is crucial for NBA Europe to succeed.
"A Bayern, a Real Madrid or a Barcelona - we bring something completely different in terms of fan reach and fan enthusiasm than a pure basketball club. And all of that has to be assessed, and the NBA is also aware of that," Hainer told a press conference presenting new basketball managing director for sport Thorsten Leibenath on Wednesday.
According to dpa sources, more than 20 existing basketball clubs have submitted bids to be in NBA Europe. In Germany, Alba Berlin and Bayern are seen as the most promising candidates for one or two of the 12 permanent starting places.
Asked whether he was concerned by reports of a rival offer from backers of a new Munich team, Hainer said: "Definitely not. I assume that there will be no competitive basketball here without Bayern."
Hainer said talks continue with NBA boss Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum.
"But we are also talking intensively with the Euroleague. We are shareholders in the Euroleague and therefore also have an obligation and a self-interest for the Euroleague and the NBA to work together," said the Bayern president.
"The fact is, the NBA keeps saying it wants Bayern involved. We also say, whenever we are asked, that we are of course interested - as a basketball club, as the German reference, as Munich, as a basketball city - that we want to be involved. But the overall conditions also have to be right."