Overview
- Speaking at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, Silver said teams from Europe or Africa could be invited into the NBA Cup and that top foreign clubs might one day enter the NBA playoffs.
- Multiple reports say the NBA is exploring a Europe-based league that could start in 2027 or 2028 as part of a phased integration into official competition.
- Silver argued transatlantic travel would be manageable, comparing it to a New York–Los Angeles trip and outlining road swings that include several games in Europe.
- Arena quality remains a central hurdle, with Silver citing the need for modern, multi-use venues and pointing to major capitals such as London and Paris as likely hubs.
- Reporting this summer indicated Silver met with Real Madrid about potential participation in the proposed European project.