PARIS (AP) — EuroLeague basketball owners have officially rejected a merger offer from the NBA, according to a statement from FC Barcelona. The decision was made on Tuesday during a meeting of the EuroLeague's 13 shareholder clubs in Cernobbio, Italy.
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The clubs, which include prominent teams like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Olympiakos, convened to discuss strategic decisions regarding the future of their league. Barcelona confirmed that the NBA’s proposal to create a single European operation was not accepted. The club's president, Joan Laporta, was in attendance and stated that while the current proposal was rejected, clubs would reconsider if it were amended in the future.
Details about how individual clubs voted remain unclear, and the EuroLeague has chosen not to provide further comment. The NBA has yet to respond to requests for comment following the decision.
The EuroLeague consists of 20 teams, including 13 shareholder clubs that have protection from relegation. Clubs not part of this group qualify through domestic leagues or via invitation. Reports from French sports daily L'Equipe indicated that the NBA had offered each prospective member approximately 400 million euros ($448 million).
During the same meeting, EuroLeague club owners agreed to transition from their current 10-year licenses to franchises, and discussions about expanding the number of franchises were also confirmed.
The NBA, in partnership with FIBA, is considering launching a 16-team league in Europe, with a potential start date in October 2027. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that the league anticipates substantial entry fees for these franchises, reportedly in excess of $500 million. Many European teams, including some in the EuroLeague, are facing financial difficulties, often dependent on wealthy owners to cover annual debts.