By Euronews
Publication Date
In the statement made by the NBA and FIBA on Monday, it was announced that basketball clubs and club owners in Europe will be contacted starting next month to gauge interest in participating in the proposed continental organization.
According to organizers, the new league will feature guaranteed places for some teams, as well as an annual qualification system that will operate through the FIBA Basketball Champions League or end-of-season tournament.
All clubs competing in European leagues approved by FIBA will have the right to enter the qualifiers to participate in this new organization.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said the competition format honors European sporting traditions by providing every ambitious club on the continent with a legitimate path to the top level.
One in six players in the NBA is European
Many details of the new organization are not yet clear. These include the start date, currently projected to be October 2027, and the number of clubs that will compete in the first season.
One of the proposals on the agenda is a league format with a total of 16 teams, 12 of which are permanent and four of which come through elimination.
The NBA and FIBA have been discussing the idea of establishing a league based in Europe for several years.
A significant portion of the NBA’s biggest stars today are of European descent. Nikola Jokic from Denver Nuggets, Giannis Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee Bucks, Victor Wembanyama from San Antonio Spurs, Luka Doncic from Los Angeles Lakers and Lauri Markkanen from Utah Jazz are among these names.
Approximately one sixth of the players playing in the NBA are European.
It is stated that planning has accelerated after the 2024 Paris Olympics. NBA President Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Zagklis sat side by side at a press conference in New York earlier this year, confirming that the project was progressing. JPMorgan and Raine Group became involved in the process as financial advisors this summer.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said discussions with various European stakeholders reinforced their belief that there are great opportunities to create a new continental league.
Many cities across Europe are being considered for the NBA-FIBA joint venture. These include London and Manchester, Paris and Lyon, Madrid and Barcelona, Rome and Milan, Munich and Berlin, Athens and Istanbul.
On the other hand, the NBA announced that two regular season games will be played in Europe in mid-January. Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic will face each other in Berlin and London.
