The NBA Has Commenced Its European Crusade

There has been a lot of change in the NBA lately. While Trae Young‘s move to Washington kick-started the trade season, rumors have only continued to circulate, plaguing one team after another. This year’s All-Star Game features yet another format change, which has become a trend in recent seasons, as the NBA tries to attract better TV viewership. Following a round-robin format, the finale will be between one of the two USA teams and the lone World team.

Lastly, the NBA is well on its way to establishing a pan-European league. Established with the help of FIBA, the NBA and its executives will meet with potential investors and European teams interested in playing for this new league this month.

So what does this mean for Europe’s basketball landscape?

The NBA Has Commenced Its European Crusade

The American Dream

Leah McNab, the NBA’s Head of International Strategy and Operations, told ClutchPoints that teams interested in joining this new league will come from three different groups. The first will be existing European teams who may want to partake in the venture. The second will be major cities that may want to form clubs to participate in the league. The third and final group will include European football (soccer) teams interested in creating basketball teams.

Although NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has made it clear that there is no set time when the NBA Europe launch will take place, it is expected that it will begin operations sometime in 2027. CNBC and Bloomberg report that investors will put together formal bids to join the league by spring 2026. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum confirmed that several major European clubs had shown interest in this new league. These include Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Fenerbahçe Istanbul, and LDLC ASVEL, according to Sports Business Journal.

This is not the NBA’s first time carrying out a global expansion. As recently as last September, SportsPro featured an article about the potential sale of franchises in the BAL. Otherwise known as the Basketball Africa League, they are the first official NBA expansions in countries outside of North America. This sale of franchises would eliminate permanent members from the league altogether. Founded in 2019, and playing its first official season in 2021, and recently completing its fifth season, products of this league include Duke standout and now Suns rookie, Khaman Maluach, and former NBA G Leaguer Thierry Darlan.

According to NBA Europe President George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s European league would follow the blueprint of the Basketball Africa League, with additional details expected to be released in the coming months. 

The European Reaction

While the news about the NBA’s European expansion has made waves, the reactions from major teams are mixed at best. Out of the EuroLeague’s 13 permanent teams, nine of them have already signed licenses that tie them to the organization for the coming decade. However, should a team wish to depart from the EuroLeague, the team is required to pay a €10 million penalty.

While Barcelona has extended its contract by signing a 10-year license with the EuroLeague, Real Madrid has other plans. As per Diario AS, Real Madrid has not yet signed with the EuroLeague, with talks ongoing.

According to Eurohoops, the EuroLeague sent the NBA a letter on January 9, warning of possible legal action should the NBA continue to conduct talks with teams that are under long-term contracts with the EuroLeague. The EuroLeague stated in April 2025 that the NBA’s expansion is a “threat to the longstanding traditions of European basketball.”

EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas had his own take to share about the NBA’s expansion. 

“We’ve only heard the plan or the fireworks of how amazing it will be, how much potential there is. But having a theory is one, and making it work is two.”

In an interview with The Associated Press, Motiejunas appeared confident that all 13 of the EuroLeague’s permanent teams would stay. 

“We’ve been here for 26 years. We know how Europe functions,” added Motiejunas.

It takes two to tango, as the saying goes. The formula is working for the FIBA and the NBA, as they join forces to bring a breath of fresh air into Europe’s basketball landscape. However, the same cannot be said for the basketball titans that are the NBA and the EuroLeague, as their respective futures in the peninsula of peninsulas are hanging in the balance. Concluding his interview with AP News, Motiejunas said:

“We focus on ourselves. We will be able to adapt, there’s no question about it, and we will continue to fight.”