NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that the league’s proposed European competition will move forward with or without the EuroLeague, maintaining that discussions remain active despite contrasting perspectives between the two organizations.
Negotiations at the NBA China Games in Macao
Speaking on the sidelines of the NBA China Games 2026 matchups between the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks in Macao, Silver addressed the future of continental basketball following a recent meeting in Cernobbio. The commissioner acknowledged that negotiations take time but pushed back against characterizations that the talks have stalled or turned hostile. CNBC reported his comments regarding the ongoing dialogue.
It is like any negotiation, it takes time and is still ongoing,
Silver told CNBC. To call the situation ‘difficult’ seems like an exaggeration to me; we simply have alternating points of view with the Euroleague.
Silver noted the intricate ecosystem of European basketball, which balances domestic leagues against continental tournaments. According to league figures cited by Silver, Europe hosts more than 1,200 professional clubs across various domestic competitions, making integration a complex logistical puzzle.
The EuroLeague Relationship and Contingency Plans
While Silver identified the EuroLeague as the current premier competition on the continent, he reiterated that the NBA intends to establish its own tournament regardless of whether a partnership materializes. When asked if the league would launch independently, Silver responded affirmatively while emphasizing his preference for a shared arrangement.
Will we launch the league even without the Euroleague? Yes. But I repeat: I am convinced that we will find an agreement,
Silver said. Our goal is to carry forward the NBA Europe project by finding an agreement with the Euroleague. I believe we will succeed in the end.
Neither the NBA nor the EuroLeague has announced a definitive timeline for concluding the current round of talks.
Investor Interest in Major European Markets
Financial projections for NBA Europe continue to draw heavy attention from potential stakeholders. Initial market estimates place the value of individual franchise licenses in the hundreds of millions of dollars, driven by the commercial appeal of top-tier global cities.
Interest spans traditional domestic basketball powers, historic European soccer brands, and private investment groups looking to build new franchises from the ground up. Silver highlighted major metropolitan hubs as prime targets for potential expansion.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the NBA franchise of cities like London, Paris, Madrid, or Munich, among the most important markets in the world,
Silver said. That is exactly how investors see this project.
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