About EBAG

Independent expertise for European basketball.

EBAG connects professional business experience with a practical understanding of basketball's structural challenges.

Who We Are

Where business expertise meets basketball knowledge.

The European Basketball Advisory Group (EBAG) is an independent professional network and platform for research, knowledge exchange and selected initiatives in European basketball.

Initiated in 2016, EBAG brings together a passion for basketball with professional expertise and experience from diverse business areas. Its work applies established business principles, analytical approaches and practical experience to relevant challenges in European basketball, with the aim of developing well-founded, realistic and forward-looking perspectives for the sport.

EBAG is a non-profit initiative based on individual contributions. It is not incorporated as a separate legal entity and does not operate as a commercial consultancy. Since its foundation, EBAG’s research, publications and initiatives have been developed and coordinated by its founder, Cem Karamürsel.

Initiators

Cem C. Karamürsel

Born in 1977 in Istanbul, Turkey. Played basketball at junior and local level and was active as a basketball coach and referee in Turkey and Germany.

Has more than 20 years of professional experience in finance, accounting and governance, having held senior positions at multinational companies including NIKE, Callaway Golf, Coca-Cola and KPMG in the USA, Germany and the Netherlands.

Alongside his corporate career, has remained actively involved in European basketball. From 2019 to 2025, he served as Secretary General and Consultant to the EuroLeague Head Coaches Board (EHCB). He was also a Guest Lecturer and Industry Expert in the Sports Business MBA Program jointly organized by the Euroleague Basketball Institute and Vytautas Magnus University from 2019 to 2023 and served as a member of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2022 EuroLeague Final Four in Belgrade.

Holds degrees in business administration with a focus on finance and accounting from the University of Mannheim, Germany and Marmara University, Turkey. In 2012, completed the EBI Master Program in Sports Management and Marketing organized by Euroleague Basketball and Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Italy.

Is a US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Lives in Germany.

M. Orhan Töre

Born in 1971 in Berlin, Germany. Played basketball for more than 15 years, including at professional level in the Turkish Basketball League for Eczacıbaşı Istanbul and PTT Ankara. Was a member of the Turkish Junior National Team and captain of the Çavuşoğlu College Basketball Team. In 1988, was selected as the Most Valuable Player among high-school basketball players in Turkey.

Has more than 15 years of professional experience across finance, accounting, tax, internal audit and compliance. Built his career in an international corporate environment, working for a multinational global leader in the medical devices industry and gaining broad experience across different finance, governance and control-related areas.

His professional background combines financial expertise with experience in internal controls, audit, compliance and fraud-related matters. Is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), complementing his broader experience in corporate finance and governance.

Studied economics at Bilkent University in Turkey. His combination of professional business experience and a long-standing basketball background reflects EBAG's approach of bringing business expertise and basketball knowledge together.

Basketball has remained an important part of his life beyond his earlier competitive career. He continues to play in a local league and maintains a strong connection to the game. Lives in Germany.

What We Do

We analyze challenges and explore practical alternatives.

We systematically examine current and emerging challenges in European basketball, combining professional experience, analytical methods and a deep understanding of the sport to develop well-founded insights, perspectives and practical alternatives.

How We Work

We engage where we believe we can contribute.

We identify topics and developments where our experience and analysis can contribute to a better understanding of European basketball. Our work is primarily self-initiated and may include research, reports, insights and selected initiatives, as well as dialogue with relevant stakeholders and experts across the basketball community.

Connect with EBAG

Interested in our work or exploring a potential collaboration?

Contact EBAG