ABA League j.t.d. President Goran Ćakić addresses the basketball fans on behalf of all clubs prior to tipoff

Dear basketball fans,

On the eve of the start of the 2024/25 season, the Assembly of the ABA League j.t.d. made a series of decisions and conclusions aimed at further growth and development of the competition. Ahead of the new season, ABA League j.t.d. President Goran Ćakić addresses the public on behalf of all clubs present at the Assembly Session:

"The ABA League was founded to create the best possible environment for clubs, providing quality and delivering the ultimate basketball experience to the audience. It has been doing this for almost a quarter of a century. That is why today, as we are counting down to the start of the 24th edition, we can proudly say that, by all criteria, the ABA League has become synonymous with a top-tier sports-business product that is continually growing, both competitively and financially.

Last season was unique in many respects, pushing boundaries once again, which the audience recognized and rewarded. We had over 5 million website visits, with more than 278,000 followers on social networks and almost 17 million video views. Throughout the 2023/2024 AdmiralBet ABA League season, 559,225 spectators enjoyed high-quality basketball, averaging 2,824 per game, which is the second-best result in the league's history. Another confirmation of the quality of the regional league is the millions who watched on TV; thanks to our long-standing media partnership with Arena Sport TV, 325 matches under the ABA League were televised, along with extensive national TV coverage from the region that showcased the games. A perfect environment was created for many renowned companies that recognized the ABA League’s efforts to be an ideal partner for promoting their brands. AdmiralBet, NLB Bank, Sava Insurance Group, Mastercard, Fashion and Friends, Europcar, Spalding, and XGB3, through a long and successful partnership, have become extremely important and valued members of the ABA family. Next season promises to be even more outstanding as another major global brand, "LG," begins its partnership with the league. It’s well-known that the best recognize the best.

All of this would not have been possible without significant investments and the strength of the clubs, but above all, it is owed to the biggest stars of the show—those who create magic on the court: the players and coaching staff. From 12 matches of the ABA Super Cup in Podgorica to over 198 matches in the AdmiralBet ABA League, 111 matches in the NLB ABA League 2, and 22 matches in the U19 ABA League, we have enjoyed top quality, talent, and everything that makes this region rightfully considered the cradle of European basketball. The intensity of the competition, the rivalries, and the emotions with each game remind us why the ABA League is so highly regarded. We hope you were inspired by the performances of the teams and players.

We were thrilled by another amazing summer for national teams of our region, culminating in the outstanding performances of the Serbian national team at the Olympic Games. We watched with pride in Paris as the former kids of the ABA League became stars in a fiercely competitive environment, showcasing strong clubs and organizations. We were particularly delighted to see the U20 Slovenian national team celebrate their medals at the U20 European Championships, as well as the U18 and U16 Serbian teams at their respective European Championships. They reminded us once again of how rich our region is in talent and highlighted our obligation to support their further development, just as we did for previous generations, including the two new players drafted into the NBA last summer (Nikola Topić and Nikola Đurišić).

However, sport is indifferent to history. Aware of this, the clubs worked diligently over the summer to take an even bigger step forward. Strong transfers, enviable quality, top professionals, talent, and ambition among the selected teams are guarantees of great things to come. The league segment of the AdmiralBet ABA League will see 58 additional games, resulting from the expansion to 16 clubs, including two highly ambitious projects: Spartak, the champion of the NLB ABA League 2, and Dubai, which represents a new expansion of the ABA League far beyond the region. This expansion also marks a unique sports-business venture where increasing revenues from TV rights and sponsors make the establishment of a prize fund a realistic and logical next step.

The NLB ABA League 2 will expand next season to include 16 teams and a new competition system, bringing clubs back to their home courts to play in front of their fans and adding a new dimension to the entire project. We anticipate that the excellent work the clubs have done in team selection will yield great results. Talent is something we can always rely on in this region, which, historically, has been the main strength of the U19 competition that consistently brings higher quality and offers a glimpse into the future.

Six AdmiralBet ABA League clubs will participate in European competitions next season—two each in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, BKT Eurocup, and Basketball Champions League—which serves as another indicator of class and quality. The referees of the ABA League have received European recognition, and 18 representatives will once again officiate the highest level of European basketball, the Euroleague.

While we wait with great impatience for the basketball to be back, we thank you once again for your incredible support, for being part of the ABA family, and for an even better tomorrow for our beloved game."

On behalf of the ABA league j.t.d. clubs,

President Goran Ćakić