The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a basketball league in Europe, following the Euroleague's rejection of their collaboration proposal during a shareholders' assembly on October 3. The NBA indicated its intention to pursue the NBA Europe project by 2027, regardless of whether an agreement with Euroleague is reached.
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The Euroleague, which is currently the leading competition in European basketball, has expressed interest in collaborating with the NBA but voted against the NBA's proposal. In a joint statement released on Thursday, the NBA and FIBA emphasized that a partnership could enhance the European basketball landscape. They stated, "A partnership between the Euroleague, FIBA and the NBA to unify the European basketball ecosystem would unlock the game’s enormous potential across Europe."
Both organizations are focused on creating a new professional men’s league in Europe and fostering a more sustainable basketball ecosystem with like-minded partners. Meanwhile, the Euroleague is advancing its own expansion plans, which could lead to competition between the two leagues. A senior sports executive noted that any collaboration between the NBA and Euroleague is unlikely before 2028, with ongoing discussions anticipated but no set timeline for a deal.
Euroleague shareholders are expected to reconvene within a month to discuss the allocation of long-term licenses, according to information shared by an attendee at the assembly.