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The proposed joint venture between the National Basketball Association and Euroleague Basketball faced a decisive rebuff on Oct. 6, when a formal American proposal was rejected by nearly all of the European competition’s shareholder clubs, BasketNews reported, citing the Greek media outlet SDNA.
Euroleague Shareholder Clubs Reject the NBA Proposal
The NBA had established an Oct. 6 deadline for a formal response to its proposal for European expansion. Instead of acceptance, the outreach met widespread resistance among the 13 shareholder clubs that currently govern the competition: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Fenerbahçe, Anadolu Efes, Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bayern Munich, ASVEL, Baskonia, Zalgiris Kaunas, and CSKA Moscow, which remains currently suspended.
Clubs fiercely protective of the competition’s autonomy characterized the American terms as “unacceptable” and “colonialist,” according to reports cited by BasketNews. While a faction of shareholders remained open to future dialogue, they insisted that the NBA must substantially improve its offer before formal negotiations could resume.
NBA Demands Euroleague Freeze Team Expansion
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the NBA’s proposal hinged on strict structural prerequisites. The American league demanded that Euroleague freeze its project for expansion to 24 teams and halt its evolution toward a franchise model. The proposal was strictly tailored around the existing 13 shareholder clubs, making any alteration to the number or status of these shareholders a trigger to render the entire agreement void.
The friction shows a fundamental disagreement over governance and commercial control. Euroleague President Chus Bueno outlined the challenge in September, stating, “It has to be a partnership that works for both of us, not just for one of us.”
NBA Europe Plans Remain Targeted for 2027-28
Despite the breakdown in bilateral talks with Euroleague, the NBA intends to press forward with its independent project for a new continental competition. Reports indicate that the proposed NBA Europe league is slated for a 2027–28 launch, featuring a 16-team format composed of 12 permanent franchises and four qualification-based berths.
Target markets under consideration for the American-backed initiative include London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Berlin, Munich, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Istanbul, and Athens. Mark Tatum previously noted that the league’s vision involves uniting forces with Euroleague, FIBA, and individual clubs, though the latest developments leave that cooperation further away than ever.
FIBA acts as a partner to the NBA in the broader NBA Europe project, though governing body officials were not directly involved in the bilateral negotiations between the American league and Euroleague clubs.
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