In the ever-expanding world of basketball, FIBA’s Secretary General Andreas Zagklis is looking ahead to 2025 with high hopes for advancing the sport on a global scale. His outlook is both ambitious and focused, aligned with FIBA’s strategic priorities: empowering national federations, promoting women in basketball, and shaping international club competitions. With tournaments such as the FIBA AfroBasket, AmeriCup, Asia Cup, and EuroBasket on the horizon, as well as the upcoming FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Mongolia, Zagklis foresees a year brimming with opportunities to elevate the game’s visibility and appeal.

One of FIBA’s most successful initiatives in recent years has been its drive to expand women’s basketball. This push dates back to 2019, when ‘Women in Basketball’ became a core pillar of FIBA’s strategy. Zagklis attributes this momentum to a blend of targeted initiatives and a broader societal shift toward women’s sports. The numbers from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney reflect this success, with over a billion online impressions and half a billion video views—staggering growth from the previous World Cup. Moreover, a new generation of players is emerging, bringing unprecedented energy and skill to the women’s game and drawing even more attention globally. The popularity of players like Caitlin Clark, who started in FIBA Youth competitions, is driving this wave forward, illustrating the appeal and growth of women’s basketball.

The 3×3 Women’s Series has also become a crucial element of this trend, showing remarkable fan engagement, with viewership metrics showing substantial increases year over year. This shorter format has proven to be accessible, dynamic, and particularly engaging for new fans.

‘Her World, Her Rules,’ FIBA’s grassroots program to encourage girls to embrace basketball, has reached over 120,000 participants globally, proving that the investment in young female athletes is paying off. Complementary programs, such as mentorship for female coaches and referee licenses for women, are also fostering a more inclusive environment for women in basketball.

Another key demographic that FIBA is focusing on is teenage players, who, as Zagklis notes, are drawn to basketball at exceptional rates. According to a Nielsen survey, basketball now boasts a 69% global interest rate, with young fans aged 16 to 29 showing the highest enthusiasm. This trend is supported by the introduction of 3×3 basketball as an Olympic discipline, which appeals to a young, urban audience through its fast-paced style and accessibility. For Zagklis, these findings are an encouraging signal of basketball’s increasing popularity among future generations.

However, the Secretary General is realistic about the challenges FIBA faces, especially in developing countries where clubs lack infrastructure and government support for sport and youth development. Many of these national federations struggle with limited resources and high costs, such as international travel, which can quickly deplete modest budgets. Furthermore, local volunteer bases are often insufficient to maintain the youth structures necessary to grow the sport from the ground up.

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is central to FIBA’s mission through the Foundation’s ‘Basketball For Good’ program. This initiative addresses social issues by using basketball as a tool to promote health, education, and equality. Zagklis emphasizes that while FIBA is making strides with SDGs, partnerships with other organizations have proven to be the most challenging goal. FIBA works to bridge the gap between global priorities and local needs within its 212 member federations.

Andreas Zagklis is optimistic about the road ahead, even with the challenges it presents. Through its commitment to gender diversity, youth engagement, and social responsibility, FIBA is well positioned to bring basketball to new heights worldwide. As he puts it, the organization is driven by a desire to “grow the game globally,” making basketball an accessible and inclusive sport for all.