In a recent press conference, Unicaja’s president, Jesus Lopez Nieto, reflected on the team’s decisions and successes during the 2023/24 season.
The president of Unicaja said that the club from Malaga will continue to play in the FIBA Champions League.
“We have a contract until 2026. After that, we will evaluate our options,” Lopez Nieto stated on Wednesday. He emphasized the challenges within European basketball, noting, “The EuroCup is influenced by the EuroLeague, which has distinct parameters that affect it. The European basketball landscape needs to adapt to current conditions. We will continue in the FIBA Champions League because I prefer a more competitive league. The EuroCup has too many inconsequential games leading up to a single-elimination format.”
After clinching the FIBA Champions League title in Belgrade, Ibon Navarro‘s squad shifted their focus to the 2024 Liga Endesa Playoffs. Despite finishing first in the regular season of Spain’s Liga Endesa, Unicaja’s journey ended in the semifinals after a thrilling best-of-five series against Murcia.
Reflecting on their season, Lopez Nieto said, “We finished third in Liga Endesa, just like last year. We were the regular season champions and had the best point differential. We also won the FIBA Champions League. It was a spectacular season, though it will be hard to replicate as we belong to the second tier of teams.”
Discussing financial constraints, he added, “We operate with a specific budget that places us in the second tier. Our achievements in the FIBA Champions League and domestically will present additional challenges in the 2024/25 season.”
Looking ahead, Lopez Nieto outlined their goals, “Our objectives remain the same: to reach the playoffs, qualify for the Copa del Rey, and advance to the latter stages of any European competition we participate in, whether it’s the FIBA Champions League or any future second-tier competition.”
Highlighting upcoming competitions, he said, “Another significant challenge is the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. We will also compete in the Supercopa Endesa.”
In terms of player retention, Unicaja aims to maintain a stable roster. The recent contract extensions of Tyler Kalinoski and Kameron Taylor indicate a consistent strategy. “Last year, our budget was 14 million euros. I can’t predict the exact budget for the next season, but it will likely increase slightly,” Lopez Nieto commented on the team’s financial planning.
As Unicaja looks to the future, their focus remains on maintaining their competitive edge while navigating the financial and structural challenges of European basketball.