After a historic 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season – and with the Play- In Showdown, Playoffs and Final Four about to start – Euroleague Basketball and its stakeholders would like to show their commitment and unity to address an issue that creates unnecessary and unjustified conflict.

Euroleague Basketball, EHCB,  ELPA and UEBO release joint statement

After a historic 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season – and with the Play- In Showdown, Playoffs and Final Four about to start – Euroleague Basketball and its stakeholders would like to show their commitment and unity to address an issue that creates unnecessary and unjustified conflict.

In light of the public statements made about the performance of the referees by different individuals from different stakeholder groups during the Regular Season, and with the EuroLeague competition reaching the final and most vibrant stages of the season, Euroleague Basketball, the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, the EuroLeague Players Association, and the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials wish to encourage players, coaching staff and club executives to contribute by every possible means to generating a positive atmosphere that celebrates the games and promotes respect among fans, as well as respect between individuals from all stakeholder collectives.

Additionally, the three organizations representing players, head coaches and officials, and Euroleague Basketball, representing the participating clubs, commit themselves to create a working group to jointly developing further initiatives in the future that promote the values of respect, sportsmanship, and healthy competition while continuing to deliver the best basketball experience to millions of devoted fans.

Paulius Motiejunas, the Euroleague Basketball CEO, caught up with SKWEEK while in the Principality of Monaco to discuss the future of the EuroLeague.

Euroleague Basketball CEO Paulius Motiejunas sits down with SKWEEK

Paulius Motiejunas, the Euroleague Basketball CEO, caught up with SKWEEK while in the Principality of Monaco to discuss the future of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Over the course of the interview, which was published in two parts on SKWEEK’s YouTube channel, Motiejunas provides an update on the situation regarding Dubai, relations with FIBA, Financial Fair Play and future plans for the league. You can watch the two videos below.

### Paulius Motiejunas interview with SKWEEK, Part 1

### Paulius Motiejunas interview with SKWEEK, Part 2

A number of topics were brought up, principally relating to the future of the EuroLeague

Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce the relaunch of Euroleague Basketball FanXP to push the boundaries of innovation in the sports industry. In an exciting collaboration, 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP joins forces with SPORTBIZ EUROPE, one of the largest sports industry events, to create a platform that aims to discover cutting-edge solutions.

Euroleague Basketball FanXP relaunches with exciting SPORTBIZ partnership

**Startups can [apply here](https://fanxp.euroleague.net/) from March 18 to April 29, 2024**

Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce the relaunch of Euroleague Basketball FanXP to push the boundaries of innovation in the sports industry. In an exciting collaboration, 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP joins forces with SPORTBIZ EUROPE, one of the largest sports industry events, to create a platform that aims to discover cutting-edge solutions. 

The 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP is on a mission to redefine the basketball experience by soliciting innovative solutions from all around the globe. Startups are encouraged to contribute visionary ideas in the following key areas: 

\- Content Creation 

\- Fan Engagement 

\- Fantasy Sports 

\- Gameday Experience 

\- Digital Solutions 

\- Venue Management 

\- New Businesses 

The 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP is not just a competition; it is an opportunity for startups to revolutionize the basketball experience. The collaboration with SPORTBIZ EUROPE ensures that these groundbreaking innovations will be showcased and celebrated on an international scale. 

Winning startups will earn the invaluable opportunity to implement their solutions in the esteemed environments of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup. Past editions of Euroleague Basketball FanXP have showcased success stories such as Content Stadium, Piing, and MindFly, providing inspiration for the next wave of innovators. 

"The collaboration with SPORTBIZ EUROPE amplifies our commitment to fostering innovation in basketball," Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Marketing and Communication Senior Director at Euroleague Basketball, stated. "We are excited to see how startups from around the world will contribute to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the sports industry, tackling one of the most transversal challenges of the industry: offering the best fan experience possible."

"We are thrilled and proud of our collaboration with Euroleague to enhance the visibility of outstanding sports startups within the SPORTBIZ EUROPE framework," stated Patricio Baigorrotegui, SPORTBIZ/Good Morning Sports Co-Founder & Director.

Laura Cordeiro Jáuregui, SPORTBIZ/Good Morning Sports Co-Founder & Director, added: "This innovation challenge bridges the startup world with one of the top global sports properties, perfectly aligning with the SPORTBIZ spirit of fostering new opportunities in the industry and creating value."

To participate, startups must align with the specified criteria and demonstrate expertise in the identified areas. After an initial review of all submitted startups, a select group of 18 will advance to the next phase. During this stage, EuroLeague Basketball management mentors will engage with the startups to refine their pitches. 

The final pitch presentations will be made in front of a distinguished jury, featuring top personalities from the sports industry. The much-anticipated announcement of the 2024 Euroleague Basketball FanXP winners will take place at SPORTBIZ EUROPE: Barcelona in October, providing a global stage for the recognition of innovative solutions. 

The ECA Board of Directors unanimously decided during the meeting held at Euroleague Basketball headquarters to extend the appointments of Dejan Bodiroga, as President, and of Paulius Motiejunas, as CEO, for four more years each.  

Dejan Bodiroga and Paulius Motiejunas extended as Euroleague Basketball President and CEO

Dejan Bodiroga was named Euroleague Basketball President on September 14, 2022, and renewed his commitment with the organization on June 15, 2023. In his role as president, he has focused on improving the quality of Euroleague Basketball competitions for the benefit of clubs, players, fans, partners and other stakeholders while playing a key role in strengthening relationships with the wider basketball community, including the EuroLeague Players Association, the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board, the Union of Euroleague Basketball Officials, FIBA, domestic leagues and other basketball-related institutions.

Paulius Motiejunas became Euroleague Basketball CEO on June 15, 2023, after a successful career as President of Zalgiris Kaunas. Motiejunas has focused on uniting the shareholders behind plans for future growth in key markets in Europe and beyond, enhancing the game experience in Euroleague Basketball arenas, television and digital platforms, and opening up new avenues to expand its fan base.  

Under their joint management, Euroleague Basketball has forged some key initiatives: [generating more interest than ever on digital platforms and television](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/es/euroleague/news/the-euroleague-continues-to-generate-more-interest-than-ever/); setting a new attendance record of devoted fans filling EuroLeague arenas; maintaining regular conversations with the different basketball stakeholders to reach mutually acceptable solutions for the good of basketball; and identifying opportunities of collaboration in new markets outside of the pan-European ecosystem.

The ECA Board of Directors also reviewed the current state of the business, as well as discussing opportunities ahead, and were updated on the different conversations regarding collaboration possibilities in new markets to continue building on the success delivered during the last 24 years and bringing the Euroleague Basketball to new heights.

Movistar Plus+ to broadcast BKT EuroCup Playoffs

Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce that Movistar Plus+ will reinforce its Euroleague Basketball competitions portfolio in Spain by bringing Dreamland Gran Canaria's and Joventut Badalona's playoff games plus the BKT EuroCup Semifinals and Finals to the country's devoted basketball fans.

Movistar Plus+ will broadcast every BKT EuroCup fixture played by a Spanish team in addition to select semifinal games and the EuroCup Finals. 

The BKT EuroCup started the 2023-24 season with a revamped competition format in which the regular season reduced the number of teams advancing to the playoffs from eight to six, with the top two teams in each regular season group advancing directly to the quarterfinals. In addition, the semifinals and finals will be played in a best-of-three format instead of a single game. The eightfinal and quarterfinal phases maintain the single-game knockout format that has been unanimously celebrated by the fans as it brings a true basketball drama. 

Movistar Plus+'s broadcasts will start with the eighthfinals do-or-die game between Joventut and ratiopharm Ulm on March 5, followed by the reigning EuroCup champion, Gran Canaria putting its title on the line against Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul on March 6.

The BKT EuroCup is the last basketball addition to the Movistar Plus lineup, which broadcasts Europe's premier club basketball competition, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague; the NBA, and the Spanish domestic league (ACB).

Euroleague Basketball and Sportpass, a fan engagement and gaming platform, have reached a collaboration agreement that will reinforce Euroleague Basketball's gamification strategy. Sportpass is a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, a global leader in gamification with a large portfolio of over 400 investments in Web3 projects.

Euroleague Basketball to amplify its gamification portfolio with Sportpass

Euroleague Basketball and Sportpass, a fan engagement and gaming platform, have reached a collaboration agreement that will reinforce Euroleague Basketball's gamification strategy. Sportpass is a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, a global leader in gamification with a large portfolio of over 400 investments in Web3 projects.

The collaboration will bring forth a Euroleague-themed web3 gaming platform that targets the Gen Z fanbase, merging the thrills and culture of sports in a digital offering with a number of micro-game experiences, rewards or in-game collectibles, among others.

Gamification has been a growth pillar in the Euroleague Basketball digital strategy in recent seasons, with a triple-digit year-on-year increase on the fantasy games portfolio, reaching a community of 4.3 million engaged fans.

Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Marketing and Communication Senior Director at Euroleague Basketball, stated "We are delighted to join forces with Sportpass and Animoca Brands, leaders in web3 products, to expand our gamification offering. The digital ecosystem is key to expand the EuroLeague brand and offer new ways for young fans to interact with the league. This collaboration marks an important step in growing our portfolio of gaming opportunities for fans to engage with the EuroLeague in different, innovative ways.”

Sportpass CEO Jordan Fogarty added: "Sportpass is the result of years of innovation in technology, gaming, and sports, placing the fan at its core. With a plethora of digital experiences, including gaming, rewards, and competitions, we are confident that EuroLeague fans will find what they are looking for. Our collaboration with the EuroLeague underscores our commitment to revolutionizing the sports entertainment landscape.”

Euroleague Basketball has renewed its partnership with Fantaking Interactive, the provider of the [EuroLeague](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) and [EuroCup](https://eurocupfantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) Fantasy Challenge, for an additional three years, with the new deal running until June 2027.

The collaboration between Euroleague Basketball and Fantaking Interactive has been in place since 2021, as Fantaking Interactive played an important role in the launch of a brand-new EuroLeague and EuroCup Fantasy Challenge game. 

“We are thrilled to renew our on-going collaboration with Fantaking and keep on building on the unprecedented success the Fantasy Challenge game has had ever since this partnership started. EuroLeague and EuroCup Fantasy Challenge products are two key assets of our gamification strategy as they allow fans to engage with the competitions in a different way, independently of their degree of knowledge on the game.” stated Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Marketing and Communication Senior Director at Euroleague Basketball. “Fantaking have a deep understanding on sports, basketball, and fantasy games, and are continuously striving to innovate, improve the users experience and adapt the game to an ever-changing digital landscape.”

Over the last three years, Euroleague Basketball and Fantaking Interactive have worked hand in hand in order to grow the fantasy game, which is now Euroleague Basketball’s number one digital product in terms of fan participation and is widely respected as a renowned fantasy product in Europe. 

"We are delighted to announce the renewal of our partnership with Euroleague Basketball for the next three years. The continued success of the Euroleague Fantasy Challenge, with an impressive user base of 170,000 fans, reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional fantasy sports experiences,” said Alessandro Molinari, Fantaking Interactive co-founder. 

“As Euroleague Basketball excels in driving fan engagement, our collaboration seamlessly aligns with their strategy. We are proud to stand alongside Euroleague Basketball as a trusted partner, contributing to the league's expansion and brand recognition. The journey so far has been extraordinary, and we eagerly anticipate achieving even greater milestones together in the years to come." 

Year on year, the number of users taking part in the Fantasy Challenge has increased significantly, as more people than ever are able to compete for prizes and, perhaps most importantly, bragging rights during every round of the regular season and also in the playoffs.

The interest in the EuroLeague and EuroCup Fantasy Challenge has also been aided by the introduction of the EuroLeague Fantasy Podcast with Frankie Sachs and Javier Gancedo, which is released once a week during the season and offers Fantasy Challenge managers the chance to hear from two experts from [Euroleague.net](http://Euroleague.net).

Looking ahead, this three-year renewal includes a design revamp of the EuroLeague and EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, in addition to a new mobile app version in September 2024 which will increase the fan experience and functionalities.

This renewal includes a commitment to further improve the EuroLeague and EuroCup Fantasy Challenge experience for users.

Euroleague Basketball, Fantaking Interactive together until 2027

Euroleague Basketball announced today the signing of a comprehensive agreement with Sportradar Integrity Services – a global supplier of sports integrity solutions – to protect its competitions over the next two years.

Working in collaboration with Sportradar Integrity Services, a range of integrity measures will be deployed to help ensure first-class, multi-faceted integrity protections are in place for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, the BKT EuroCup, as well as the sport's premier under-18 competition, the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament.

Sports technology company Sportradar will draw upon their considerable 18-year experience and expertise to assess and monitor betting patterns on matches from Euroleague Basketball's three premier competitions using its AI-powered Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS), to help detect any potential integrity issues. Sportradar will also be providing anti-match-fixing educational support to all relevant stakeholders through their Education & Prevention solutions to maximise the chance of preventing and deterring match manipulations, using unique in-person workshops supported by a tailored and targeted online education platform. Finally, Euroleague Basketball can call on the support of Sportradar Intelligence & Investigation Services as required.

Ibrahim Erkan, Euroleague Basketball's Sports Director, said: "Euroleague Basketball is fully committed to guarantee that all games are disputed under an unquestionable Fair Play environment, practicing a zero-tolerance policy for any inadequate behaviour. Sportradar Integrity Services' vast knowledge in the field of sports integrity is an invaluable control tool to reinforce the monitoring protocol deployed in our competitions to guarantee that they fulfil the most strict moral and ethical principles and values such as honesty, honour, dependability, and trustworthiness."

Andreas Krannich, Sportradar Integrity Services EVP, said: "It is a privilege to partner with Euroleague Basketball, the governing body of Europe's two premier men's basketball competitions. At Sportradar we have witnessed growing integrity issues across global basketball in recent years, so it is vitally important that such a significant player in global basketball has acted by opting to utilise our robust and varied integrity solutions. We look forward to supporting Euroleague Basketball's integrity programme for the next two years."

Euroleague Basketball partners with Sportradar Integrity Services

Euroleague Basketball mourns Dejan Milojevic

Milojevic was a pioneer player in the new EuroLeague at the turn of the century and mentor to great players since then. His passing at age 46 was confirmed by the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, for whom he was an assistant coach, on Wednesday evening. Milojevic was on a road trip with the Warriors in Salt Lake City, Utah, when he suffered a heart attack at a team dinner on Tuesday. The NBA had postponed Golden State's next game earlier on Wednesday.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are absolutely devastated by Dejan Milojević&#39;s sudden passing, <br><br>This is a shocking and tragic blow for everyone associated with the Warriors and an incredibly difficult time for his family, friends, and all of us who had the incredible pleasure to work with him. <br><br>We grieve… <a href="https://t.co/9wAyb1JXz8">pic.twitter.com/9wAyb1JXz8</a></p>&mdash; Golden State Warriors (@warriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/warriors/status/1747716875809870179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

As a player, Milojevic was among the most versatile in the European elite during the first decade of the century. He played five EuroLeague seasons, three with Buducnost Podgorica and two with Partizan Belgrade, between 2000 and 2006. His 55 performance index rating for Partizan in a win over Olympiacos on Dec. 2, 2004, remains tied for the second-best performance in EuroLeague history. He also played a EuroCup season with Buducnost, in 2003-04, and another with Valencia Basket in 2007-08.

Shortly after retiring as a player, Milojevic commenced coaching in his native Belgrade with Mega Vizura, where he stayed for eight seasons and helped launch the careers of players like Vasilije Micic, a former EuroLeague MVP and two-time champion, and Nikola Jokic, the two-time NBA MVP, among many others. Milojevic returned to Buducnost in the middle of the 2020-21 season and helped the team reach the EuroCup Quarterfinals before losing the three-game series by 3 points to eventual champion AS Monaco.

May he rest in peace.

Euroleague Basketball joins the Serbian and global basketball family in mourning Dejan Milojevic, who passed away on Wednesday. 