Overview
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met clubs and investors in Berlin and London this week as part of an exploratory push, describing the effort as fact‑finding with FIBA.
- The proposal outlines a 16‑team competition with 12 permanent places and a target start in October 2027, with potential markets identified as London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Athens, Istanbul, Berlin and Munich.
- EuroLeague said it sent a legal warning over approaches to its shareholder clubs, and its CEO argued the NBA has presented ideas rather than concrete commitments.
- Barcelona has indicated it will renew a long‑term EuroLeague license, while attention remains on Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe and ASVEL, with ASVEL owner Tony Parker signaling support for the NBA concept.
- Reports point to franchise fees of at least $500 million and to higher opt‑out costs in new EuroLeague licenses, with Silver cautioning that any investment would be a multi‑decade play.