ОГ Ануноби Европын сагсан бөмбөгийн лиг нь Лондон болон Манчестер хотуудыг багтааж, Их Британи дахь спортын хөгжлийг шинэ шатанд гаргах потенциалтай гэж үзэж байгаагаа илэрхийллээ.
Нью-Йорк Никс багийн тоглогч ОГ Ануноби Европын шинэ лиг байгуулагдах төсөл нь Их Британийн сагсан бөмбөгийг цоо шинэ түвшинд хүргэнэ гэдэгт итгэлтэй байна. NBA Europe нэртэйгээр 2027 оны аравдугаар сард эхлэхээр төлөвлөгдсөн уг лиг нь Европын 12-16 багийг багтаах бөгөөд Лондон болон Манчестер хотууд багтахаар хүлээгдэж байна. Франчайз эзэмших эцсийн санал авах хугацаа зургадугаар сард өндөрлөсөн бөгөөд НБА зорилтот хот тус бүрээс 500 сая ам.доллараас 1 тэрбум ам.долларын санал хүлээн авчээ. Лигийн нээлт 2027-28 оны улиралтай зэрэгцэн эхлэх бөгөөд бэлтгэл ажил төлөвл ёсны дагуу үргэлжилж байна.
НБА-д Их Британи гаралтай тоглогчдоос тодрон гарсан ОГ Ануноби нь Нью-Йорк Никс багийг 1973 оноос хойш анх удаа аварга болоход чухал үүрэг гүйцэтгэсэн юм. Тэрээр энэ зун төрөлх хот Лондондоо амарч байхдаа Camden дүүрэгт талбай хөгжүүлэх ажилд хувийн хөрөнгө оруулалт хийжээ. Хоёр удаагийн НБА-гийн аварга тэрээр ирэх улиралд Нью-Йорк Никс багтайгаа дараалан аварга авах зорилготой байгаагаа хуваалцсан бөгөөд лигийн бүх 29 өрсөлдөгч баг адилхан аюул учруулахаар чансаатай болохыг онцолжээ. Портленд Трейл Блэйзерс багийн Жереми Сочан, Бостон Сэлтикс багийн Амари Уильямс болон Даллас Маверикс багт энэ улиралд дебют хийх Тоби Лавал нарын хамт Ануноби нь НБА дахь Их Британийн дөрвөл тоглогчдыг бүрдүүлдэг байна.
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The planned launch of a bespoke European NBA league has the potential to take basketball in the United Kingdom to the “next level”, says the New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby.
With the working title of NBA Europe, it is planned for launch in October 2027 and will consist of between 12 and 16 European teams – with London and Manchester expected to be included.
The deadline for final bids to own franchises was in June and it is hoped the identities of teams that will feature will begin to be announced this year, with the NBA receiving bids between $500m (£372m) and $1bn (£745m) for each target host city.
Anunoby is the standout current player of UK origin in the NBA, having played a starring role in the Knicks’ first NBA title win since 1973.
Alongside the Portland Trail Blazers’ Jeremy Sochan, the Boston Celtics’ Amari Williams and Tobi Lawal, who is set to make his NBA debut this season for the Dallas Mavericks, Anunoby makes up part of the NBA’s UK quartet.
“I think it is amazing,” Anunoby told BBC Sport when asked about the NBA Europe plans.
“Basketball continues to grow, especially here in London and in Manchester.
“It’s exciting and I think it is going to take basketball to another level out here.”
Plans for the league’s launch in just over a year’s time remain “on track”, with the league set to start in tandem with the 2027-28 NBA season.
“Planning is going really well. We’ve had an amazing amount of demand in the last couple of months for NBA Europe, particularly as bidding closed,” said Laura Pinnell, vice-president of Consumer Group and head of marketing for the NBA across Europe and the Middle East.
“I would say the UK is one of the biggest opportunities for us out of the whole project.
“The growth opportunity is incredible and actually a London franchise, there is discussion about a Manchester franchise. All of which are great opportunities for fans and also, youth and participation.”
Anunoby eyes back-to-back NBA titles
Anunoby, a two-time NBA Championship winner, has spent time in his birth city of London this week during his off-season break.
As well as investing his own money as part of a grassroots court development in Camden, Anunoby has been eyeing the prospect of helping the Knicks win a second NBA title in as many years next season.
The NBA has had eight different champions in as many years, with no team being able to produce back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
“That’s our goal this year,” said Anunoby in response to the prospect of ending the run of consecutive different winners.
But asked which of the Knicks’ 29 NBA rivals will pose their biggest threat, the 29-year-old said challenges will come from across the competition.
“The whole league,” added Anunoby.
“It is a very tough league and every team is capable and everyone is a threat.”
