The NBA is on the verge of a landmark decision: the creation of a professional basketball league in Europe. This week, league owners will vote on a proposal to create a new circuit of eight to 10 franchises, with the goal of boosting the sport’s popularity across the continent and tapping into its economic potential. The NBA would own half of the league, with franchise owners owning the other half, mirroring the WNBA’s original setup.
Those franchises – potentially in cities such as London or Paris – could fetch at least $500 million each, with the NBA favoring sales to outside investors such as wealthy individuals or sovereign wealth funds. The plan includes a “semi-open” twist, reserving up to four spots for top EuroLeague teams, such as Spain’s Real Madrid or Greece’s Olympiacos, to join next season.
A Global Game with Deep Roots
The NBA’s international ambitions are nothing new. Since the 1990s, it has played 40 regular-season games outside the U.S. and Canada, starting with Japan and Mexico, then breaking into Europe with a game in London in 2011. France has hosted five games in recent years, reflecting the continent’s growing basketball fever.
This season, a record 125 foreign-born players filled NBA rosters, including 62 Europeans such as Serbia’sNikola Jokic and Slovenia’s Luka Donic.No American has won the award since James Harden’s 2017-18 MVP win – non-American stars like Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid have dominated, and this year Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jokic could take it again. The NBA sees Europe and the Middle East as a $3 billion annual revenue jackpot, building on successes in China and the Basketball Africa League.
Facing the EuroLeague and Low Ratings
Europe already has a titan: the EuroLeague, home to elite clubs and passionate fans. How will it react to the NBA’s move? Money often makes the difference, and the NBA has plenty of it. The league has considered deeper ties with the EuroLeague and FIBA, but a standalone league is the current focus. Meanwhile, this season’s sluggish U.S. TV ratings have the NBA looking for a spark – Europe’s passionate fans and new broadcast markets could be the answer, reviving interest and revenue streams.
A Crowded Basketball World
This proposal fits into a global trend. New leagues are springing up fast, from Unrivaled’s 3-on-3 women’s circuit in Florida to a rumored $5 billion international league tied to Maverick Carter, LeBron James’ partner. The NBA’s European venture could ignite competition or redefine basketball’s global landscape. As the vote looms in New York, the outcome could cement the NBA’s global reign – or force a rethink of its overseas playbook. The future of European basketball is up for grabs.
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