The NBA is exploring the creation of a new European basketball league, a move that could reshape the global basketball landscape. According to Sportico, league owners are set to discuss the proposal this week, with plans to establish a competition featuring 8 to 10 franchises.
A New Era for European Basketball?
The proposed league would operate in a “semi-open” format, allowing up to four teams from the EuroLeague—such as Real Madrid, Olympiacos, and Partizan Belgrade—to qualify each season. Additionally, new franchises in major cities like London and Paris could be worth as much as $500 million.
If approved, the NBA would retain a 50% stake in these permanent franchises while selling the remaining shares to private investors, including sovereign wealth funds, venture capital groups, and existing European clubs. This model mirrors the NBA’s past ownership structure of the WNBA, which shifted to independent ownership in 2022.
NBA and FIBA Partnership in Focus
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis revealed in December that he had been in “serious conversation” with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regarding a European league backed by the NBA. The partnership between the NBA and FIBA has grown in recent years, notably with the launch of the Basketball Africa League in 2021.
Global Talent and Market Growth
The NBA’s interest in Europe comes at a time when international talent is thriving in the league. A record 61 European-born players were on opening-day rosters this season, including two of the last three MVP winners—Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić.
Despite basketball’s widespread popularity in Europe, Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum noted last October that the sport holds “less than a one percent share of the commercial market” in the region. He emphasized that there is a significant “untapped opportunity” to expand the NBA’s influence and boost basketball’s commercial success in Europe.
What’s Next?
Although no formal vote has been scheduled, Sportico reports that NBA team owners could vote on the proposal at any time. With the league already hosting regular-season games in European cities like Paris, the move to establish a permanent presence in the region seems like a natural next step.
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