The launch of NBA Europe has been postponed for a year, now set for 2028. A pre-qualifying competition is scheduled for next year to select four temporary members for the inaugural season, alongside 12 permanent franchises. The NBA is planning to invest approximately $10 billion over the next decade in this venture, which is regarded as the largest startup initiative in sports history.
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Reports indicate that the NBA has received several lucrative offers for the 12 franchises, with prices expected to range from $500 million to over $1 billion for the London franchise. Many bids are likely to come from owners of football clubs that participate in the UEFA Champions League, with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum recently in discussions with executives from major clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan.
In addition to London, cities like Manchester, Rome, Athens, Istanbul, and Lyon are expected to host permanent franchises. The London franchise has attracted bids exceeding $1 billion from investors, including former Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and a consortium with former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. The Manchester franchise has also drawn interest, with Buss Sports Capital reportedly submitting an offer, although City Football Group has not bid despite their existing ties with the NBA.
While NBA plans remain flexible, there is hope to announce the identities of the new franchise owners by later this year. Tatum noted the interest from both well-funded investors who currently do not own basketball franchises and from existing basketball clubs that have submitted bids.
Despite this interest, the NBA faces opposition within the basketball community. EuroLeague clubs voted this week to decline the NBA's initial investment proposal in favor of expanding their league from 20 to 24 teams. However, NBA sources maintain that discussions will persist. Tatum emphasized the need for collaboration among EuroLeague, FIBA, and basketball clubs to improve the sport's structure in Europe.
The NBA's strategy for NBA Europe involves adopting a hybrid model that merges European and North American sports cultures. The structure will feature 12 permanent members with an annual infusion of four temporary members. Promotion opportunities are expected to be established via a new second-tier European competition, the Basketball Champions League.
Key figures like Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez have shown substantial interest in NBA Europe, seeing it as a potential pivot point for creating a semi-closed league similar to proposals that arose during the European Super League discussions. Despite withdrawing from the ESL last year, Pérez has reportedly remained engaged with NBA Europe for its potential benefits to clubs jockeying for dominance in European football.
Complications may arise from Manchester City’s involvement in other ventures that could intersect with NBA operations, particularly with their stake in the Co-op Live venue, slated to host NBA games. Nonetheless, Tatum expressed a commitment to attracting partners that will aid in developing basketball infrastructure across Europe, highlighting the need for world-class arenas to drive economic growth in host cities.