Andreas Zagklis, Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), discussed the key milestones for basketball in 2024 during an online press conference held on Monday with journalists from around the world. In an extensive Q&A session, Zagklis highlighted FIBA’s achievements and challenges, with a special focus on advancements in competitions, inclusion, and the global development of the sport, particularly through 3×3 basketball, which he stated “will reach a new dimension at the Los Angeles 2028 Games,” in response to a question from SportsIn.
“We’ve had a record-breaking year, a year of many firsts,” Zagklis began. Among the most notable moments, he mentioned the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “The OQTs were possibly the best in history, and the Olympic Games featured the highest-level basketball tournament we’ve ever seen.”
Paris 2024 set a record in ticket sales, with basketball accounting for nearly 10% of the total. “We broke Atlanta’s records with 40 fewer games,” he highlighted, thanking the organizers, national federations, and players for their contributions.
A GOLDEN DECADE FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Zagklis described the current period as a “golden decade” for women’s basketball. “Since the 2022 World Cup in Australia, we’ve seen remarkable growth,” he noted, emphasizing the record attendance of 13,000 spectators at the February OQTs in Belgium for a game between Belgium and the United States. He also mentioned the thrilling Paris Olympic final, decided in the last second.
The Secretary General also stressed the importance of expanding women’s basketball to new markets: “We held key events in Mexico and Africa as part of the road to the 2026 Women’s World Cup in Berlin.”
GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUES
In club basketball, 2024 marked the first year with three Basketball Champions Leagues (BCLs) in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. He highlighted the adoption of glass floors in competitions like the BCL Final Four, a FIBA innovation gaining popularity.
He also underlined the importance of the Intercontinental Cup held in Singapore with teams from five continents: “We had a very competitive tournament, with great success for Unicaja Málaga.”
SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACT AND 3X3 GROWTH
3×3 basketball continues to grow. “If 3×3 were an independent federation, it would rank as the fifth-largest summer sports federation on social media,” Zagklis noted. Overall, FIBA platforms achieved five billion views in 2024, consolidating basketball’s global reach.
WORKING WITH THE NBA FOR LA28
Asked about the tight schedule for Los Angeles 2028, he acknowledged the logistical challenges: “We identified this issue together with the NBA and are continuing discussions to ensure player welfare.”
He also addressed relationships with the NCAA and compensation for clubs that train players. “We’ve created a working group to analyze the impact of the NCAA and propose improvements in compensation,” he said.
SUPPORTING 150 FEDERATIONS IN 2025
Zagklis reiterated FIBA’s commitment to inclusion and development, highlighting the FIBA Plus program, which provided technical and organizational support to 112 national federations in 2024. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he stated, “Our priority is to protect the FIBA ecosystem and ensure that, when circumstances allow, everyone can compete again.”
Addressing underrepresented regions such as Pakistan and India, Zagklis emphasized FIBA’s most ambitious development program in its history. “The FIBA Plus program directly assisted 112 federations in 2024, and we aim to reach 150 in 2025,” he affirmed. He also stressed the importance of having professional staff in national federations and strong relationships with local governments as key elements for development.
Responding to a question on regional priorities, Zagklis stated: “We want to strengthen South America, with countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile leading the way. We are also working in West and East Africa, with nations like Kenya, Madagascar, and Egypt showing great progress. Finally, we aim to boost Australia and New Zealand after their recent success in Paris.”
3X3’S IMPACT ON THE ROAD TO LOS ANGELES
When asked about the future of 3×3, Zagklis explained: “Los Angeles is an iconic city for urban basketball, and we believe 3×3 can reach a new level there. In Paris, we achieved unprecedented success with remarkable attendance and exceptional media coverage. We expect this discipline to grow even further in the U.S. market, leveraging the street basketball culture.”
Zagklis also noted, “3×3 allows countries with less infrastructure to have Olympic representation, making the sport more accessible. We are working with the IOC to increase the number of participating teams in Los Angeles and continue fostering its development in Africa and Latin America.”
“TAKING BASKETBALL TO NEW HEIGHTS”
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Zagklis highlighted the Continental Cups and the road to the 2026 Women’s World Cup in Berlin as key priorities. He concluded by thanking journalists and supporters: “The support for basketball this year has been exceptional. We will continue working to take this sport to new heights.”
