NBA eyes European expansion with FIBA partnership – Hoopsfix.com

The NBA’s potential expansion into Europe is becoming increasingly tangible, with high-level discussions between the league and FIBA pointing to significant developments on the horizon according to a report from The Athletic.

Earlier this month, FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis hinted at momentum growing for some type of NBA Europe League, stating, “The next month will show where we are headed in this matter.”

The NBA Paris games in France will be in January, an event where NBA Commissioner Adam Silver normally addresses the media.

“There is clear interest (by the NBA) and there are ongoing discussions with FIBA,” Zagklis said at his annual, year-end news conference in early December.

“We’ve been having and will continue having discussions with … the company that operates the Euroleague.

“It is something that has been on our radar. We tried to bring everyone together. This was not possible. So our job is to continue having serious conversations with our partners at the NBA.”

Spanish outlet Relevo has reported a league could start as soon as 2026-27, with the NBA allegedly having already reached out to the likes of Panathinaikos (which the club denies), Real Madrid and Fenerbahce.”

It’s difficult to imagine an NBA European league without the UK, one of its key markets. London, as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan and largest cities, has recently seen the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, call for the formation of a basketball taskforce.

Speculation about the NBA’s European ambitions has been building throughout the year. Since March 2024, reports suggested that NBA officials were seriously considering launching a league in Europe potentially partnering with FIBA in similar fashion to the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

This partnership would aim to address weaknesses in the European basketball ecosystem, which has struggled with sustainability despite its rich tradition and passionate fan base.

“What isn’t sustainable will eventually disappear,” FIBA Europe president Jorge Garbajosa told Spanish outlet Marca (via BasketNews). “Given the vast fan base, public and private support, and rich tradition, why aren’t we making European basketball more attractive and commercially viable?”

Adding: “I’m convinced that there’s a reality (of NBA European expansion) because Mr. Silver doesn’t talk for the sake of talking.

“…We don’t know how or when this will happen, but it’s coming.”

In September, speaking at the NBA Board of Governors Press Conference, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said:

“There are ongoing efforts led by Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, who is here, looking at the opportunity over time for the NBA to directly participate in the growth of the game in Europe.

“…There’s agreement that where we are in terms of the level of interest in basketball in Europe is not commensurate with the commercial activities. The level of interest here (raises left hand), sort of commercial activities here (raises right hand lower).

“I think the way all of us see it, it’s not just about a business opportunity. We’ve been in this position before in our leagues, where if you can’t demonstrate to the market that you can run a successful business, it’s not sustainable. I think for basketball to continue to grow, we need — whether it’s a series of tournaments or a league that is viable.”

It has been reported the NBA Cup was originally considering featuring two Euroleague clubs, and the new competition could be a place to start any potential continent crossover, should the venture choose to go in that direction.

And with FIBA’s involvement, it is expected that with any NBA European venture, domestic leagues will be protected, and scheduling conflicts with the international windows will be avoided, something that has been a persistent issue with the EuroLeague, who reportedly will not be involved after failed partnership discussions.

“FIBA has a very consistent approach.” Zaklis added. “We want the growth of our sport, but at the same time we want to protect what are the fundamentals of our ecosystem, which can not only relate to the rules of course, the calendar, but it is a question of respecting the national teams, the national leagues.”

Before the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Final on December 18, Silver added:

“We’re not ready to make any public announcements. We haven’t made any internal decisions yet, but I do think there continues to be an enormous opportunity to take basketball to another level in Europe.”

The EuroLeague, Europe’s top basketball competition, will see permanent member licenses expire after the 2025-26 season. Reports suggest powerhouse clubs such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Fenerbahce may let their licenses lapse, creating an opportunity for alignment with an NBA-backed league.

In September, the Financial Times revealed private equity firm BC Partners has entered exclusive talks to buy a minority stake in the EuroLeague basketball competition, with the owners are looking to sell roughly a third of the business at a €1bn valuation. The move has further fuelled speculation that the league is seeking to bolster its financial resources to better compete with or withstand the potential arrival of an NBA-backed venture in Europe.

Additionally, Silver has noted that the NBA is studying how top European clubs have developed academy-style training programs, which many believe better prepare youth players for professional careers compared to the AAU system in the U.S

In November, ESPN revealed the ‘NBA Academy’ venture will undergo a significant restructuring, signalling a shifting philosophy in the league’s youth basketball development investment strategy globally. As part of the restructure, NBA Global and Latin America Academies in Australia and Mexico will be shut down in July 2025, while the NBA Africa Academy will remain, and a new ‘Global hub’ will open in the future.