NBA Europe is moving closer to selecting its first owners after receiving final bids for the 12 permanent places in its proposed competition. The latest group known to be pursuing the London franchise brings together the Checketts, Lewis and Eccles families. It joins a race in which several bidders are reportedly prepared to offer more than $1 billion and expands a field already featuring investors connected to some of the world’s leading clubs, leagues and sporting projects.
The level of interest is a positive sign for a competition that must still secure final approval and define certain aspects of its operation. NBA Europe is attracting not only the capital required to meet the substantial costs of establishing a new franchise, but also experience from the National Basketball Association -NBA-, the Premier League, NHL, MLS, cricket and major-event organisation. The bids do not guarantee the project’s success, but they show that owners accustomed to managing leading sports properties believe the league can develop lasting relevance and value.
Direct experience of the NBA and US sport
Dave Checketts brings the consortium’s strongest basketball credentials. He served as president and general manager of the Utah Jazz, president of the New York Knicks and head of NBA International when the league began staging its first regular-season games outside North America. He subsequently ran Madison Square Garden, whose operations included the Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty, as well as the arena itself and its broadcasting interests. He also founded Real Salt Lake and led the ownership of the St. Louis Blues, combining experience in establishing a franchise, operating venues and managing teams across several professional leagues.
The Lewis family, which controls Tottenham Hotspur through its family trust and ENIC, adds more than two decades of experience in English football. During that period, the club’s valuation increased considerably and it built a new stadium designed to stage concerts, NFL games and other major events alongside football. The Eccles family, meanwhile, has contributed to the development of facilities and projects associated with the Salt Lake City 2002 and Utah 2034 Olympic Winter Games. Together with the Checketts family, it also launched a fund targeting $1.2 billion in sports investments that participates in the ownership structure behind Burnley and Espanyol.
NBA Europe’s most contested market
The bid places them in competition with Daniel Levy, Tottenham’s former chairman of almost 25 years and now a member of another group pursuing the franchise. Levy is involved in a proposal alongside Liberty Global and MSP Sports Capital, a former investor in McLaren Racing. His tenure at the London club was associated with commercial growth, the construction of its stadium and the development of a new training complex. The contest therefore presents an unusual situation: Tottenham’s controlling family and the executive who oversaw much of its transformation are separately pursuing the same basketball team.
They are not the only candidates with experience in sport. Technology executive Nikesh Arora has reportedly assembled a consortium willing to offer more than $1 billion after leading the acquisition of a 49% stake in London Spirit, a cricket team competing in The Hundred. The Reuben family, a shareholder in Newcastle United, and groups connected with Authentic Brands Group have also been linked with the process. The combination of investors from basketball, football, ice hockey, cricket, technology and private capital has made London the proposed league’s most sought-after market.
Owners to build a new competition
The NBA received bids from more than 20 basketball and football clubs, as well as investment funds and private groups. In each of the 12 target markets, bids were received within or above the $500 million to $1 billion range. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said: “The level of engagement, and the scale of the bids, reflect the marketplace’s belief in our proposed model and the enormous, untapped potential for European basketball.” When selecting owners, the organisation will be able to assess not only their financial contribution, but also their local knowledge, access to suitable venues and ability to build a stable identity and fanbase.
The project being developed with the International Basketball Federation -FIBA- is scheduled to begin in October 2027 with 16 participants: 12 permanent franchises and four teams qualifying each season on sporting merit. The identified markets are London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Istanbul. The NBA and FIBA will assess the bids, with the selected owners expected to be announced progressively once the necessary approvals have been secured. Financial elements and the relationship with EuroLeague remain unresolved, but the arrival of investors with capital, basketball knowledge and experience in major sports organisations gives NBA Europe a stronger foundation from which to move towards its inaugural season.
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