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NBA commissioner Adam Silver continues to explore a wide range of financial backing options as plans for the proposed European league move forward, including outreach to affluent investors in the Middle East.

According to Joe Vardon and Eduardo Tansley of The Athletic, Silver has specifically targeted sovereign wealth funds, which would face fewer ownership restrictions in the European project than they currently do in the NBA, where such funds are limited to holding no more than 20 percent of a franchise.

“We’re talking to families that currently invest in sports,” the NBA commissioner said. “In addition to talking to wealth funds, there’s more traditional investment funds that have had some experience investing in sports and then some just more traditional, home private equity funds that see sports as an asset class. So just to be clear, we are open to different forms of capital.”

NBA chief emphasized that the league is casting a wide net financially, signaling flexibility in how the venture could be funded and structured. That openness reflects the NBA’s desire to build a stable, well-capitalized foundation for a long-term presence in Europe.

In addition to investors, Silver has also held discussions with major European sports brands. He confirmed conversations with English soccer powerhouses Manchester City and Manchester United about the possibility of joining the league.

However, neither organization plans to field a team, according to reporting from Jonty Colman of BBC Sport, via BasketNews.

“We’re having conversations with everyone, and it’s part of why this process has gone on so long,” Silver told BBC Sport.

Even without direct involvement from those clubs, London and Manchester are still expected to be among the host cities if the European league ultimately becomes a reality, underscoring the NBA’s focus on major global markets as cornerstones of the project.

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