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Silver Touts NBA Europe, Cites ALBA Berlin as Model as Investor Talks Begin

The league plans a 2027 launch with startup-style financing from participating clubs.

Overview

  • The NBA is targeting autumn 2027 for a Europe-based competition featuring 12 permanent clubs and four qualifiers in cooperation with FIBA.
  • NBA Europe lead George Aivazoglou said meetings are beginning with prospective investors and teams, including football clubs interested in building basketball programs.
  • Proposed permanent host markets include Berlin, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, London, Manchester, Lyon, Paris, Milan, Rome, Athens and Istanbul.
  • Adam Silver said participating clubs would initially act as investors and he argued a clash with the EuroLeague is not inevitable, acknowledging profitability would take time.
  • Dirk Nowitzki called the rollout “a tough timeline,” and WELT reported the EuroLeague warned of potential legal action over efforts to recruit its clubs.