Marshall Glikman Long-time marketing consultant for the New Jersey Nets and other National Basketball Association organizations Country: USA

1. Building a Strong Brand and Attracting Fans
2. Enhancing the Game and Maintaining the European Identity
3. Balancing Business and Tradition
4. An Open Door for New Clubs

Marshall Glickman: A Marketing Consultant and Promoter of European Basketball

Marshall Glickman is a marketing consultant who has had an extensive career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and worked with various teams, including the New Jersey Nets. With the European basketball undergoing significant changes, the Euroleague Basketball (ULEB) made a bold move by bringing in Marshall Glickman to shape the future of the sport in Europe. The ULEB aims to emulate the success and popularity of the NBA, and Glickman's role as a promoter is crucial in achieving this goal.

Building a Strong Brand and Attracting Fans

Glickman's primary focus is on establishing the Euroleague as a strong and recognizable brand among potential consumers and prestigious for potential sponsors. Additionally, he emphasizes the need to improve ticket sales, targeting not only hardcore basketball fans but also casual spectators who seek entertainment. Glickman believes that promoting European basketball through television and press coverage, highlighting the best European players as true stars, is essential in attracting more viewers and sponsors. He understands that star power goes beyond skill on the court and includes charisma and the ability to engage with the media.

Enhancing the Game and Maintaining the European Identity

Glickman acknowledges that European basketball differs significantly from the NBA in terms of intensity and atmosphere. He believes that while some ideas from the financially successful NBA can be borrowed, it would be wrong to completely Americanize European basketball. The Euroleague aims to make the game more exciting and marketable without sacrificing its unique European identity. Glickman proposes adjusting certain rules to increase the quality of the spectacle and make the game more appealing to viewers. He suggests addressing the high number of free throws in European basketball, which can sometimes be tedious for audiences, and also welcomes the upcoming adjustment to the 24-second shot clock rule, allowing players to continue playing after a shot is made in the final seconds.

Balancing Business and Tradition

Glickman recognizes the financial challenges faced by European basketball and emphasizes the need for financial stability to preserve the sport's tradition on the continent. While he values and appreciates true basketball fans, he understands that their support alone cannot sustain the sport. Glickman sees the NBA as both a competitor and an ally, as it serves as a platform to promote basketball and validates the Euroleague's significance. He believes that a strong sporting league must be built on a solid business foundation and that maintaining a relatively stable lineup of teams in the Euroleague benefits both fans and clubs.

An Open Door for New Clubs

While the Euroleague aims to maintain stability in its team roster, Glickman assures that there is still room for new and rapidly developing clubs to join. The goal is to strike a balance between established teams with a rich history and exciting new clubs, creating a dynamic and competitive league.

Overall, Marshall Glickman's role as the Euroleague promoter highlights his commitment to making European basketball more entertaining, marketable, and financially sustainable. While drawing inspiration from the NBA, Glickman recognizes the need to preserve the unique qualities of European basketball and find the right balance between tradition and innovation.