The president of AEK Athens, Makis Angelopoulos, has estimated the chances of his club obtaining a license to join NBA Europe as "50-50," according to recent reports. He made this statement during an interview with journalists on Thursday, October 1st, expressing greater optimism than earlier in the year, when he had estimated the chances at just 5%. AEK submitted its application at the beginning of April, including a dossier of around 100 pages, as reported by SDNA. The club, which currently participates in the Basketball Champions League, has "put all its weight behind the license," according to Angelopoulos. He noted that three to four offers have been made for Athens, coming from investment funds and family offices. He also mentioned that two other entry points exist: the Basketball Champions League and national championships. Angelopoulos stated that the NBA plans to initially grant 12 licenses, with three additional ones at the end of the third season and three more at the end of the sixth, totaling 18. He also mentioned a three to five year adaptation period for clubs, a fund of 1.5 billion for investments in venues, and a rule requiring seven foreign players for every five locally trained players. However, the NBA has not confirmed these details. Angelopoulos suggested that the offer extended to the Euroleague aims to "absorb the competition," a scenario that, according to him, would delay investments. Angelopoulos also explained the agreement allowing Olympiakos to play at the Sunel Arena during the renovation of the Peace and Friendship stadium. The contract runs "until mid-January or the end of January," with two possible extensions of two months each. Both venues are managed by the same public organization, whose regulations state that in case of force majeure, a club can play in the other venue. "It is an agreement in which we lose, we do not win," Angelopoulos said, denying that AEK has received millions and recalling that the club has canceled concerts. He noted that the NBA has viewed this gesture towards the Piraeus rival favorably. Financially, Angelopoulos stated that 90 to 95% of past difficulties have been resolved and announced that in the future, AEK will no longer have a majority shareholder but will be held by a consortium of investors. He also indicated that he has rejected offers for players Flionis, Bartley, and Brown. The club currently has the French point guard Thomas Heurtel in its lineup for the current season.