Meeting with possible supporters for the establishment of a European sports league involving Adam Silver
The NBA is actively planning for a new European basketball league, set to operate independently but align with its global expansion efforts. The proposed league, scheduled to launch around or after 2026, will feature approximately 16 teams, including new franchises in major European cities like Paris, London, and Manchester, as well as potential defections from key EuroLeague clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, ASVEL Villeurbanne, and Fenerbahce Istanbul [1][2].
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has recently held meetings with leaders from Real Madrid and other European clubs, and is also in discussions with wealthy investors like the Qatari Investment Authority, owners of Paris Saint-Germain, to support new teams in Paris and elsewhere. The league may also offer spots to teams based on performance in domestic leagues or FIBA Basketball Champions League competitions [2].
However, the EuroLeague CEO has expressed concern that this NBA-led league could create confusion and division within European basketball, emphasising mutual benefits if they cooperated instead of competing [1].
In addition to the league's planning, the NBA is also organising six regular-season NBA games in Europe over the next three years. These games, scheduled in Berlin, London, Manchester, and Paris from 2026 through 2028, are part of building interest and infrastructure for NBA basketball in Europe and overlap with discussions on the proposed European league [3][5].
The European league, if it comes to fruition, may not have NBA owners as direct franchise owners, according to previous reports by Sportico. Instead, private equity and sovereign wealth funds may find potential investment opportunities in the new league, as it could offer them a chance to gain financial influence in global basketball that is not easily available in the United States [4].
The city of London is one of the possible sites for a team in the new league, which will be backed by the NBA and FIBA. The league will consist of roughly 12 permanent franchises and four rotating wild-card spots based on performance in other competitions. It will use FIBA rules instead of NBA rules [4].
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum are currently in Europe for meetings regarding the planned European basketball league. The timeline for the launch of the European league was mentioned by Silver during the 2025 NBA Finals [6].
The meetings involve private equity firms, investment banks, sovereign wealth funds, government officials, and basketball clubs on the continent. EuroLeague teams offered places in the new league would not necessarily need to abandon their existing competitions to participate [4].
FIBA did not respond to a request for comment. The European competition is estimated to be at least a couple of years away from launching [4].
References:
- ESPN
- Sportico
- Forbes
- Reuters
- BBC Sport
- CNN
- Wealthy investors, such as the Qatari Investment Authority, are discussing potential investment opportunities in the proposed European basketball league, which may be backed by both the NBA and FIBA.
- The new European basketball league, set to launch around or after 2026, could provide an opportunity for private equity and sovereign wealth funds to gain financial influence in global basketball, as it may not have NBA owners as direct franchise owners.
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and other leaders are holding meetings with European clubs about the new league, which may consist of approximately 16 teams, including potential defectors from the EuroLeague and new franchises in major European cities like London.
