EuroLeague considers buying ABA League majority stake

EuroLeague executives presented a plan to enter the capital of the ABA League and potentially become its majority owner during a Friday meeting with Adriatic League club representatives, according to a report by SportKlub.

Preliminary Talks in Belgrade and Regional Partnerships

Friday’s gathering in Belgrade brought together EuroLeague leadership and the club owners of the Adriatic competition, though sources emphasize that the talks remain strictly preliminary. No formal agreement has been finalized, and the exact financial terms or mechanics of a potential equity stake are still under evaluation.

Uniquely, the meeting also drew representatives from Dubai Basketball and Romanian side Cluj-Napoca. Neither club currently holds ownership stakes in the ABA League, but EuroLeague organizers reportedly view both organizations as strategic partners for long-term continental expansion.

Strategic Counterweight to NBA Europe Plans

The outreach to the ABA League arrives against a backdrop of escalating institutional friction between traditional European basketball bodies and North American interests. On October 6, EuroLeague shareholder clubs formally rejected an initial collaboration proposal tabled by the NBA regarding the planned NBA Europe competition.

https://x.com/sportklub/status/2108572379077341217

Just two days later, the NBA and FIBA doubled down on their timeline, reaffirming their intent to launch a brand-new European league by October 2027.

Meanwhile, EuroLeague leadership is advancing its own domestic growth blueprint, which includes scaling the premier competition from 20 to 24 teams and shifting toward a closed franchise model. In case of a refusal to join NBA Europe, the EuroLeague plans to transition to a closed franchise system featuring an expansion to 24 teams, including 21 guaranteed permanent franchises for the 2027-2028 season. A capital link with the ABA League provides an established regional feeder ecosystem and secures key markets tied directly to high-profile participants like Partizan Belgrade, Red Star Belgrade, and Dubai Basketball.

Operational Alignments and the Future of Adriatic Clubs

Beyond capital investment, SportKlub reported that EuroLeague officials intend to assist the ABA League in addressing chronic operational friction, specifically concerning officiating standards. The Adriatic competition is currently owned by a collective of regional clubs, including Budućnost, Cedevita Olimpija, Cibona, Zadar, alongside the Belgrade giants. An entry by the EuroLeague into its capital could evolve the institutional relations between the two organizations, though early September remarks by AS Monaco president Ostoja Mijailović noted that an immediate integration of the Monegasque club into the ABA League for the 2026-2027 season was impossible while raising an alternative through ABA League 2.

Next Steps in the Continental Power Struggle

With the NBA’s Board of Governors weighing more than 20 formal investment proposals—some exceeding one billion dollars—backed by various European football and basketball syndicates, the battle for control of the sport’s commercial future is accelerating. EuroLeague clubs are scheduled to continue their structural evaluation and franchise expansion votes at upcoming summits, while the NBA and FIBA press forward with their target launch date for 2027.