LONDON — The NBA is moving forward with plans to establish a new basketball league in Europe, asserting that the existing structure is significantly undervalued. This announcement follows the rejection of a formal merger proposal with EuroLeague owners earlier this week.
During the sports industry conference Leaders Week London, George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, emphasized the organization’s commitment to the European basketball market. “The NBA has been very consistent throughout the years in reiterating that we’re very serious about the opportunity in European basketball,” Aivazoglou stated. “We’re also very serious and consistent in terms of our intention to work with everybody who shares our vision of the future.”
Aivazoglou highlighted concerns regarding the current valuation of European basketball. He noted, “There is a serious value gap for European basketball. We don’t think it’s reaching its potential and we have a perspective about what has happened and what needs to happen to move things forward.”
The decision by EuroLeague’s 13 shareholder clubs to reject the NBA’s merger proposal occurred on Tuesday in Cernobbio, Italy. These clubs include prominent teams such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, among others.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the NBA and FIBA expressed their desire for a collaborative partnership, stating that a unified European basketball ecosystem could unlock significant potential for the sport across the continent. They reiterated their commitment to launching the new league, which is slated for the fall of 2027.
Despite the rejection of the initial proposal, Barcelona indicated that the door remains open for future discussions regarding a merger. The club remarked, “Should that (merger) proposal be amended in the future, the clubs and the EuroLeague will reconsider it.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has previously expressed the belief that the proposed league would benefit from a merger with EuroLeague, a sentiment echoed by Aivazoglou. He stated, “We’re always there to have discussions provided we share the same assessment of what are the main reasons why European basketball hasn’t reached its full potential and then how do we solve it.”
The NBA and FIBA first announced their plans for this European venture in March 2025, envisioning a league of 16 teams, which would include some permanent franchises alongside others that could qualify based on performance. With a growing number of European stars in the NBA, including Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, and Luka Doncic, the interest in a cohesive European league continues to garner attention.
Aivazoglou expressed optimism for the future of European basketball, stating, “We’re ready to create something that will transcend our careers, maybe even our lifetimes for the next 100 years.”
