New European Basketball League: An Ambitious Project with Support from the NBA and FIBA
New York – The NBA and FIBA are collaborating on the launch of a new basketball league in Europe, with the possibility of starting the competition in 2027 or 2028, although an exact date has not yet been defined, according to NBA commissioner Adam Silver. During a conference organized by Front Office Sports, Silver called the start in 2027 “ambitious, without a doubt”, considering the pending challenges, but did not rule out that possibility. He reiterated that the deadline could be two to three years, highlighting the option of using existing infrastructure in Europe at the beginning, while more modern infrastructure is developed.Silver suggested that starting the league near the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 could be more strategic. In March, the NBA and FIBA, the global basketball governing body, announced their plans to establish a new European league, ending years of speculation. The project has advanced rapidly, with a significant step last month when the NBA hired JPMorgan Chase and Raine Group to advise on finance and strategy. Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum held positive meetings with political leaders, teams, media companies, potential investors, and other stakeholders in Europe, as work continues at the league headquarters to make the project a reality.I don’t think we want to go much beyond 2028. The opportunity is now to do something like this.
Adam Silver
The initial plans suggest that the new league will have 16 teams, although this number could vary. European clubs such as Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Istanbul, and Barcelona will likely be part of the NBA’s plans, along with major football brands such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Currently, approximately one in six NBA players is European, including Nikola Jokic of Denver and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee, who have won five of the last seven MVP awards, as well as Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio.I’d say I’m enthusiastic about it.
Adam Silver
Basketball is probably the fastest growing sport in the world right now, and it’s a very important number 2 sport in Europe, after football, so I think there’s a real opportunity.
Adam Silver
