The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) are joining forces to develop a riveting new European basketball league. They hope to start the league’s first season in 2027 or 2028. This new initiative aims to build on the increasing popularity of basketball throughout the continent. Once considered a niche sport, it has recently grown into the second most popular sport behind soccer.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been leading this charge, as is evident by how quickly things have come together over the last few months. The time to effect change is now,” Silver announced. Above all else he was passionate about the opportunities in front of the great NBA and European basketball expansion, growth and collaboration.
To help with the launch, the NBA has brought on financial advisors from JPMorgan Chase and Raine Group. Their knowledge will be invaluable in developing a deep financial and strategic foundation for the new league. It is currently intended to have a field of about 16 teams, though that number could fluctuate.
The biggest European clubs are set to defend their turf. Teams, such as Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Istanbul, and Barcelona fill that premium. Mega-clubs from the sport’s big leagues, including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, could soon join them. This will help make the margins between the worlds of basketball and soccer in Europe even thinner.
Silver and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum have conducted positive meetings with stakeholders throughout Europe, reaffirming support for the initiative. The league office has been working nonstop to make sure everything is ready for a smooth launch.
With an ambitious timeline of two to three years, this project is no small feat. Our hope is to have it go live for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. It would mean existing arenas all over Europe could be used at first, offering an instant infrastructure to house the new teams coming in.
The sport has caught fire across the world, to the point that one of every six active NBA players is European born. Star players such as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama exemplify the talent emerging from the region.
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