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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announces partnership with FIBA to explore creating a European basketball league featuring 12 permanent franchises and 4 rotating clubs. Learn how this $3B opportunity could transform global basketball.
After decades of speculation, the NBA has officially taken a major step toward establishing its presence in European basketball. In a landmark announcement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the league is actively exploring the creation of a European basketball league in partnership with FIBA, basketball's global governing body. This development signals a transformative moment for the sport, potentially reshaping the international basketball landscape for decades to come.
During the NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York on Thursday, March 27, Commissioner Adam Silver, alongside FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, announced the league's intention to move forward with plans for a European basketball competition. "We feel now is the time to move to that next stage," Silver declared, noting that NBA team owners expressed "enthusiastic support" for continuing to explore this opportunity.
This announcement follows months of intensified discussions that became particularly visible during the NBA Paris Games in January 2025, when league officials took advantage of their European presence to meet with potential stakeholders.
While plans remain in preliminary stages, Silver outlined a vision for a "semi-open" format league consisting of approximately 16 teams – 12 permanent franchises and 4 slots that would rotate based on performance in other competitions. This hybrid approach attempts to balance the closed franchise model familiar to American sports with Europe's traditional promotion and relegation system.
The proposed league would operate under FIBA rules rather than NBA regulations, maintaining the 40-minute game format used in international competition instead of the NBA's 48-minute games. This decision acknowledges the need to respect established European basketball traditions while introducing the NBA's commercial expertise.
"It's early days," Silver emphasized. "Literally nothing has been agreed upon yet." Nevertheless, the framework being discussed represents a thoughtful approach to harmonizing different basketball cultures.
From a business perspective, this initiative represents significant potential for growth. According to industry reports, league officials believe the basketball system in Europe and the Middle East could generate up to $3 billion in annual revenue.
The permanent franchise slots in major European cities like London or Paris could sell for at least $500 million each, with the NBA potentially holding 50% equity in the league and franchise owners the other 50%. This structure would allow the NBA to capitalize directly on European basketball's growth while giving team owners a stake in international expansion.
Additionally, reports suggest the NBA has held preliminary discussions with owners of prominent European soccer clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, recognizing the value of established global sports brands in building basketball franchises.
The relationship between this proposed NBA-FIBA competition and the existing EuroLeague – currently considered the second-best basketball league globally behind the NBA – remains a critical question. FIBA's Zagklis indicated that if existing organizations joined the new league, they wouldn't be required to abandon the EuroLeague, suggesting a complementary schedule could be developed.
This approach acknowledges EuroLeague's established position while creating a pathway for top European clubs to potentially participate in both competitions. However, the new league would unquestionably pose a competitive challenge to EuroLeague's current status.
As a longtime observer of European basketball, I've watched the EuroLeague develop its commercial operations and competitive format over decades. While it has achieved impressive growth, particularly in markets like Spain, Greece, and Turkey, it has struggled to achieve the consistent revenue generation and global visibility that an NBA-backed competition might provide.
For European basketball, this development represents both opportunity and challenge. The involvement of the NBA brings unparalleled commercial expertise, global marketing reach, and management systems that could accelerate the sport's growth across the continent.
Having witnessed basketball's development across Europe firsthand, I recognize that what's often missing isn't talent – European players like Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Dončić dominate the NBA – but rather the infrastructure, commercial operations, and global visibility that the NBA has mastered.
The tactical adjustment that could transform European basketball is the creation of permanent franchises with stable ownership, allowing for long-term investment in facilities, player development, and fan engagement. The current model, with teams often moving between competitions based on performance, creates commercial uncertainty that limits growth.
Beyond the scoreline, this partnership matters because it represents a significant step toward creating a truly global basketball ecosystem. While the NBA has previously established the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in partnership with FIBA, a European league would connect the sport's two most developed markets.
This follows a broader trend of American sports leagues expanding internationally. The NFL has established a regular presence in London and Germany, while Major League Baseball has played series in London, Tokyo, and Mexico City. However, the NBA's approach appears more comprehensive – not simply playing occasional games abroad but creating an entire league structure.
The historical evidence suggests a more nuanced outcome than consensus expects. Rather than simply exporting American basketball culture, the NBA-FIBA partnership appears designed to create something that respects European traditions while bringing NBA expertise. This careful balance will be essential for success.
No formal vote on the proposal occurred during this week's meetings, but league officials indicated the process will continue advancing. Silver has previously suggested that the NBA remains "on track" in expanding its European footprint, with further discussions expected in the coming months.
FIBA President Jorge Garbajosa has stated that March would be "very important" for these discussions, indicating we may see significant developments relatively quickly. The timing aligns with the growing international profile of basketball, coming after what FIBA described as "the most successful World Cup and Olympics ever."
For basketball fans, particularly those in Europe, the coming months promise to reveal more details about this potential transformation of the sport's global structure. While concerns about how this might affect domestic leagues remain, both Silver and Zagklis have emphasized respect for existing competitions and a desire to elevate the sport globally.
No, the current plan involves creating new franchises specifically for this competition, not having existing NBA teams participate.
The relationship between this new league and NBA player movement hasn't been specified, but it could potentially create another development pathway for European talent.
According to the announcement, games would follow FIBA rules, including the 40-minute format rather than the NBA's 48-minute games.
FIBA's involvement suggests the league would be designed to complement rather than compete with national team competitions.
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