The NBA is considering entering the European basketball scene by either starting a new league or participating in an existing one.
Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reported that the topic was revisited during the NBA’s recent board of governors meeting, highlighting the league’s interest in expanding its global footprint.
FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis addressed the board of governors to discuss European basketball’s current landscape. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that while no concrete plans have been made, the league is evaluating various opportunities.
“There is no specific plan right now about Europe other than we’re agreeing to look intensively at the opportunity,” Silver stated.
According to Vorkunov, the NBA is exploring several options, including a potential league that integrates current European basketball teams. The league is also considering possible investments from Gulf states to support its venture.
This exploration comes at a time of financial uncertainty for European basketball. Some top teams have expressed dissatisfaction with the current economic model. A EuroLeague team president told The Athletic that European basketball might benefit from the NBA’s proven ability to structure and commercialize leagues.
“No one was waiting for the NBA to come in, but at this point, there’s a certain need to structure the markets and the competitions in a certain way,” the team president said.
Silver emphasized that any NBA expansion into Europe must be done in a way that does not disrupt existing basketball infrastructure. The league has been working closely with FIBA to understand how to enter the market in a collaborative and non-hostile manner.
“Where we are in terms of the level of interest in basketball is not commensurate with the level of commercial activities,” Silver said. He added that for any venture to succeed, it must be both financially viable and sustainable.
The NBA has enlisted the help of financial advisory firm The Raine Group to assess its opportunities and determine the best path for entering the European basketball market. Vorkunov’s report highlights how the NBA is capitalizing on a growing interest in basketball across Europe, which provides an opportunity to expand the league’s brand on a global scale.
Silver further explained that this venture is not solely focused on the sport itself but also on creating a stable business model that can thrive in European markets. The league aims to identify ways to make its European expansion beneficial to all parties involved, including teams, players, and commercial partners.
The NBA’s potential involvement could reshape the basketball scene in Europe, offering more structured competitions and an improved financial model for teams. However, the timing and specifics of how the NBA will proceed with its European expansion remain unclear.
For now, the NBA remains in an exploratory phase, with more information likely to surface in the coming months as discussions progress.
