The National Basketball Association (NBA) is reportedly making notable moves to expand its global reach, with a new European league on the horizon.According to reports, AS Roma, the renowned Italian football club, is in prime position to be one of the founding franchises in this ambitious venture.
Rome and its iconic football club, AS Roma, are on the cusp of a major basketball breakthrough, potentially linking the club’s famous Giallorossi colors to the world’s premier basketball league, the NBA. This significant progress was hinted at by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum during the SBJ Dealmakers conference in new York. Tatum discussed the intricate details of a new European basketball project, explicitly mentioning AS Roma alongside AC Milan as key potential participants.
The NBA’s vision for this new league, tentatively slated to launch in October 2027, appears to involve a select group of top European football clubs. Alongside established basketball powerhouses like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the league is expected to feature new franchises tied to prominent sports entities such as AS Roma, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City. This strategic alignment suggests a powerful fusion of football and basketball, aiming to capture a broader sports audience across Europe.
Rome has been identified as one of the 12 key cities earmarked for permanent teams in this groundbreaking league. What elevates this news is Tatum’s direct mention of the Trigoria (AS Roma’s training ground) connection. This indicates that the club’s ownership, the Friedkin family, is deeply involved. The Friedkins have a known history of exploring basketball investments, having previously attempted to acquire the Houston Rockets and the Boston Celtics. This new European league presents a potentially historic opportunity for them to expand their sports empire and make a significant mark on Rome’s sporting landscape.
A crucial aspect of the NBA’s plan for its European franchises is the requirement for investors to commit to building NBA-standard arenas. Tatum emphasized this point, stating, we will ask any investor interested in one of our franchises to also invest in the construction of an arena with NBA standards.
Currently,Rome’s existing facilities,such as the PalaEur,do not meet these stringent requirements. However,Tatum expressed optimism,highlighting the NBA’s partnership with FIBA and their strong relationships with governmental and institutional bodies across Europe. One of the most positive things about our partnership with Fiba for this new league is their relationship with the governments and institutions of the various countries,
Tatum explained.We are talking thanks to them with many local governments and institutions, to make sure that our clubs that have to build new arenas have access to what they need.
With the NBA actively driving this initiative, the European league is expected to materialize within the next two to three years, with Rome poised to be a cornerstone of this exciting new era in international basketball.
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