The NBA is considering a groundbreaking plan to establish a European basketball league, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday. This comes after a report detailed a potential new competition featuring up to 10 teams.
According to sports business outlet Sportico, NBA team owners are set to examine a proposal that envisions a league comprising eight to ten franchises. Among them, as many as four clubs could be drawn from the existing EuroLeague—Europe’s top-tier club competition.
Additionally, the plan includes the creation of brand-new teams in major cities like London and Paris, with individual franchise valuations potentially soaring to $500 million, Sportico reported, citing a source with direct knowledge of the discussions.
A representative for the NBA told AFP that the league’s governors would deliberate on the concept this week, stressing that any new competition would be launched “in cooperation” with FIBA, the international basketball federation.
“At this week’s Board of Governors meeting, the NBA will provide an update on its exploration of a new professional basketball league in Europe, in collaboration with FIBA,” the spokesperson stated.
For months, speculation has been mounting about the NBA expanding its footprint in European basketball. Last October, Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum hinted at the vast potential for the sport’s growth in the region, calling it an “untapped opportunity.”
“There’s tremendous potential for basketball to thrive even further in Europe,” Tatum noted during a conference call. “Our primary focus is to work alongside FIBA and our partners on the continent to harness this opportunity and elevate the game.”
Tatum further pointed out that despite basketball’s widespread popularity in Europe, it currently accounts for “less than one percent of the overall sports market in commercial value.”
“We firmly believe there’s room for a stronger, more sustainable model for European basketball,” he added.
Although no formal vote on the proposal is expected during this week’s meetings in New York, Sportico reported that NBA team owners could decide on the matter at any time.
The proposal under consideration suggests that the NBA would sell permanent franchise slots to external investors, including sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, high-net-worth individuals, and existing European basketball clubs.
