Marco Baldi has been general manager of Alba Berlin for 33 years. He spoke for the Berliner Morgenpost of the shortfall of European training clubs vis-à-vis the NBA.
Marco Baldi was born to an Italian father and a German mother. Before being the club’s CEO, he played in Berlin, and witnessed its rise from the Sömmeringhalle to the Mercedes-Benz Arena via the Schmeling-Halle.
For three seasons, ALBA has ended its journey with the title of German champion by taking over the other Euroleague team, Bayern Munich.
“But it’s not about whether we can beat Bayern,” he believes. “For me, it’s much more important: we are entering our 33rd season. We have always been in the playoffs and in countless finals. And for me a final is almost synonymous with a title. It means you are there until the last game. I know a lot of people say if you don’t win the last game, it’s for nothing. I have a different attitude. I lack humility. I know so many athletes who invest their lives, never make it to a final and pursue their sport with dedication and passion. Of course, titles are the salt of the soup, also for us. They confirm our work and make us and those around us proud. For me, the superior value is that we have constantly reinvented ourselves since the beginning of our existence, we have always been on top and we have stayed there. There are very few who do that. »
Marco Baldi’s hobbyhorse is to recover the investment in training from the NBA. You should know that Moritz and Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic are from ALBA.
“We are in sport and I understand competition very well. But one day, I would like to start a small revolution. In football, there is a training allowance set up by the world federation, FIFA. We are talking about players who go on to successful professional careers. The interest of those who have contributed to the development of these players is taken into account and is rewarded. The more the player progresses, the greater the bonus to the participating clubs for his good formation. And why isn’t there the same thing in basketball? The answer is quite simple. Because the NBA prevents a training compensation system, as is common in football. Take my favorite example, Moritz Wagner, who has enjoyed his training with us since the age of seven. Then he went to college (Michigan) for three years, then to the NBA. We don’t get anything for that. But suppose Orlando kicks him out of their G-League development squad because they don’t need him for a while – which hopefully never happens. If he wanted to be transferred from there to ALBA Berlin, we had to pay a fixed transfer fee. The world basketball federation, FIBA agrees with the NBA. It is therefore not a matter of any logic and certainly not a question of sustainability. It’s a question of power. »