The National Basketball Association -NBA- and the International Basketball Federation -FIBA- announced that from January they will move forward with the joint exploration of a new professional men’s basketball league in Europe, launching a process to engage clubs and ownership groups interested in joining the project.
One of the central pillars of the proposal is the combination of permanent spots with an annual, merit-based pathway. As outlined by both organizations, any team from a FIBA-affiliated domestic league in Europe could qualify each season either through the Basketball Champions League -BCL- or via an end-of-season qualifying tournament. The model also provides for alignment with domestic league and national team calendars.
A model built on European sporting principles
From FIBA, its Secretary General Andreas Zagklis stressed that the project is designed to fit within the continent’s competitive tradition, stating that the format “respects the principles of the European sports model by offering any ambitious club a fair pathway to the top.” He added that the initiative is intended to strengthen the sustainability of the entire ecosystem, including players, clubs, leagues and national federations.
The NBA’s perspective follows a complementary line. Commissioner Adam Silver explained that conversations with various European basketball stakeholders have reinforced the sense that “there is an enormous opportunity around the creation of a new league on the continent.” In comments published weeks before the announcement, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum had already indicated that the project would combine established clubs with new initiatives, under a gradual rollout and open ownership structure. “It will include existing teams, new teams and football clubs that want to invest in basketball,” Tatum said in an interview with ‘El País’.
Major basketball cities as priority markets
The project timeline will be another focal point in the coming months. January will mark the formal start of discussions with clubs and investor groups, while an internal evaluation by the NBA’s governing bodies is expected during the first quarter of the year. Although some media outlets point to a potential launch around 2027, both organizations have stressed that no official date has yet been confirmed.
This development runs in parallel with the NBA’s continued presence strategy in Europe, with regular-season games already scheduled on the continent. The league will stage official games on 16 January in Paris and on 23 January in London, two fixtures expected to attract heightened attention from European media and fans eager to learn more about the project.
Regarding geography, various reports and statements from NBA executives point to a number of priority markets in this initial phase. Cities mentioned include London, Manchester, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Munich, Berlin, Athens and Istanbul, all of them major metropolitan areas with strong sporting traditions and commercial appeal. At the same time, the absence of cities from traditionally strong basketball countries such as Lithuania, Serbia or Croatia, all well represented in the EuroLeague, has been noted. However, several reports suggest that the competition’s design allows for future expansion, potentially bringing additional markets into the league as it develops.
The EuroLeague, the most affected stakeholder
Within the European basketball ecosystem, institutional reactions reflect different approaches. FIBA Europe President Jorge Garbajosa referred in the days prior to the announcement to the relationship between the various actors in continental basketball and the role of the EuroLeague, stating: “If we can move forward together, fantastic. If not, we will compete.” His comments come at a time when the EuroLeague remains the leading club competition in Europe.
From the EuroLeague, its CEO Paulius Motiejunas has been more critical of the project’s evolution and of the level of coordination between the parties. In comments made in recent months, the Lithuanian executive said: “Even though they say we are talking, there is not much progress because they are following their own plan. From our side, that is not the right path,” referring to discussions around a potential new competition and the need for alignment with existing European basketball structures.
