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Adam Silver Claims NBA Europe League Could Start in 2027-2028 and Be Huge for Basketball

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By David Desa | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 2:36 PM ET

It’s a Tuesday in New York, Adam Silver is in the building, the kind of autumn day where the city feels like it’s holding its breath, waiting for the next big thing. Inside a conference hosted by Front Office Sports, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is at the podium, and he’s not just talking about the upcoming season. He’s painting a picture of the future, a vision that stretches across the Atlantic. The NBA isn’t just a league anymore; it’s an empire in the making, and Europe is the next frontier.

Silver, in his typically measured yet ambitious tone, dropped a timeline that sent ripples through the sports world. A new, NBA-backed European basketball league could be a reality as soon as 2027 or 2028. You can almost hear the collective gasp, the mix of excitement and skepticism from fans, players, and owners alike. It’s a move that has been whispered about for years, a “what if” scenario debated in sports bars from Brooklyn to Barcelona. Now, it feels real. It feels imminent.

“Ambitious, no doubt about it,” Silver admitted, acknowledging the sheer scale of the undertaking. But there was no hesitation in his voice. This isn’t a pipe dream; it’s a strategic advance. He’s not just planting a flag; he’s laying the foundation for a new basketball dynasty.

The Grand Vision of Adam Silver

For Adam Silver, this isn’t just about expanding the NBA’s footprint. It’s about tapping into a passion that’s already burning bright. “Basketball’s probably the fastest-growing sport in the world right now,” he stated, “and it’s a huge No. 2 sport in Europe behind soccer, so I think there’s a real opportunity.” He’s right. The seeds have been sown for decades by European legends who crossed the pond and conquered the NBA.

Think about it. The league’s most recent titans aren’t from American heartlands like Indiana or North Carolina. They’re from Serbia, Greece, and Slovenia. Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic have combined for five of the last seven MVP awards. They’ve brought a different flavor to the game, a blend of finesse, power, and basketball IQ that has captivated fans globally. And let’s not forget the phenom, Victor Wembanyama from France, a player who seems to defy the laws of physics and is already reshaping the future of the sport.

These players are more than just exports; they’re ambassadors. They’ve proven that world-class basketball isn’t confined to North America. The talent is there. The passion is there. The NBA, under Silver’s forward-thinking leadership, is simply building the stage.

Building the European Dream

So, what does this new league actually look like? Early blueprints suggest a 16-team league, a collection of powerhouse clubs that could make the competition fierce from day one. Names like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Fenerbahce Istanbul are being floated—clubs with storied histories and deeply loyal fan bases. Imagine these titans, already soccer royalty, battling it out on the hardwood under the NBA’s banner. It’s a sports fan’s fantasy.

Adam Silver knows that infrastructure is key. While he mentioned leveraging existing arenas to get the league off the ground, the long-term vision is bigger. It involves state-of-the-art facilities, a professional gloss that mirrors the NBA experience. This isn’t a minor league experiment; it’s a full-scale, premium product. To make it happen, the league has brought in the financial heavyweights, JPMorgan Chase and Raine Group, to map out the economic strategy. This isn’t just a sports story; it’s a business masterclass in the making.

Is This the Right Move for Basketball?

Of course, with great ambition comes great risk. There are hurdles. The ghosts of failed ventures like NFL Europe serve as a cautionary tale. Can the NBA succeed where others have stumbled? The key difference, Silver argues, is the existing, fervent basketball culture in Europe. The NBA isn’t trying to create demand; it’s meeting it.

There’s a palpable sense that the time is now. The meetings with political leaders, the enthusiasm from potential investors, and the growing appetite from media companies all point to a singular conclusion: the opportunity is ripe for the picking. “I don’t think I’d want to go much longer than ’28,” Adam Silver declared, a man clearly aware that windows of opportunity don’t stay open forever.

For the fans, this is more than just another league. It’s a promise of more high-stakes basketball, more rivalries, and more moments of magic. It’s the chance to see the next Doncic or Jokic develop on home soil before taking on the world. Adam Silver isn’t just expanding a business; he’s nurturing the global growth of the game he loves. It’s a bold, audacious plan, filled with challenges and uncertainty. But in the world of sports, it’s the bold moves that are remembered forever. And Silver is playing for keeps.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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