NBA Is All Set to Rival EuroLeague by Establishing New Competition in Europe as Early as 2026

The NBA has been permitted by the 30 clubs that jointly own the most popular men’s basketball league in the world to launch a competition in Europe that would challenge the EuroLeague’s dominance in setting up the continent’s best club basketball league.

The NBA and FIBA are formally starting the process of investigating the establishment of a new men’s professional basketball league in Europe that would compete with the EuroLeague, as said at a news conference conducted in midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA, by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. With this partnership with FIBA (the International Basketball Federation / Fédération Internationale de Basketball, an association of national organizations that governs the sport of basketball worldwide), the NBA (the National Basketball Association, a professional men’s basketball league in North America and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada) hopes to increase economic opportunities on the “Old Continent”.

There were several things that both officials were ready to commit to right away, even though they warned that everything was far from finalized and that there was no timeframe provided for the possible formation of the league itself. According to Silver, the league would probably follow European or international regulations, like 40-minute games, and would feel more like the European or international game than the usually more fluid American format.

Silver did, however, state that whatever type of league is formed, it would have a salary cap, which is currently absent from the top European leagues, whether basketball, football, or any other major sport in the continent. According to the NBA Commissioner, the objective would be for every team competing to have an equal chance of winning, just like in the NBA.

What Do Planes for New League Include?

The following are among the plans for the new league:

• Eight to 16 teams, some new and some old, may be present. It’s probably going to launch later than 2026, although it might launch as early as that.
• The current EuroLeague framework would be directly challenged by this competition. Four current EuroLeague teams have expressed interest in the deal, according to certain media familiar with the situation: Real Madrid Baloncesto (Spain), FC Barcelona Bàsquet (Spain), Fenerbahçe Beko (Turkey), and LDLC ASVEL (the French team headed by four-time NBA champion and one-time NBA Finals MVP Tony Parker). At the moment, Fenerbahçe have the most chances of winning the ongoing season of the EuroLeague (Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for sponsorship reasons) if the odds of betting sites for basketball are to be relied upon. The Istanbul-based team is the third-biggest outright favorite.
• There would be new “permanent” teams in the league, and there would be an opportunity for select clubs to advance through a system akin to the current EuroLeague model.
• The league and new investors, such as sovereign wealth funds, would hold 50/50 of the new teams. These investors have a cap on the amount of money they may invest in each NBA team.
• Approximately US$500 million would be the buy-in for those teams.
• FIBA, which has been working to weaken the EuroLeague’s hold on the best teams, has partnered with the NBA in this endeavor.
• The ultimate objective is to establish teams in significant cities across the world, frequently connected to prominent football clubs in Europe. London, Manchester, Berlin, and Munich are among the markets highlighted. For instance, Qatar Sports Investments may acquire a new team in Paris affiliated with its football powerhouse, Paris Saint-Germain FC.
• Although this league would be distinct from the NBA, this agreement might include a preseason competition between NBA and European teams.

One thing is sure—money is the driving force behind all of this, both in terms of growing the NBA’s brand and generating additional revenue for the organization. The NBA’s best growth prospects are in the international market, even though the local market continues to be its main source of income, particularly now that the new television arrangement is in effect.