The NBA once again reaches out to the Euroleague for NBA Europe

There is almost just one year left until European basketball experiences an unprecedented revolution with the start of NBA Europethe new top-level competition that the NBA wants to promote in the Old Continent and whose start is scheduled in October 2027. There are two big questions in the air right now: the teams that will participate and the role that the Euroleague will adopt in this new competition.

The commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver He reviewed the status of the project yesterday at his press conference following the two-day Board of Governors meeting in New York. Silver especially delved into the issue of negotiations between the NBA and Euroleague to go hand in hand in NBA Europe. The executive stressed that the conversations continue.

“We believe we are making progress. We believe the league (the NBA) would be strengthened by joining forces with the EuroLeague. It doesn’t have to happen, but I think we would all be better off as a unified front in Europe,” Silver noted.

The Spanish Chus Bueno, CEO of the EuroleagueAGENCIES

With these words, the NBA’s top leader reiterated the position of the American league: they are prepared to move forward with NBA Europe whether with or without an agreement with the Euroleague, but they prioritize a scenario in which both competitions go in the same direction.

In that sense, the Gazzetta dello Sport last week pointed out the possibility of the NBA buying the Euroleague. The owners of the top continental competition will meet on October 5 at Lake Como in Italy in what is presumed to be a vital summit for the future of the Euroleague. The entity is headed by a Spanish CEO, Chus Good.

Barcelona and Madrid They are among the 12 target cities in which the NBA seeks to locate the 12 permanent members that begin their new European competition. The other 10 are Paris, Lyon, Rome, Milan, Munich, Berlin, London, Manchester, Athens and Istanbul.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a play during the third quarter of an NBA game against the Indiana Pacers at Crypto.com Arena on March 06, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images — Doncic wants to be part of NBA Europe as one of the investors of a new club in RomeGetty Images

The NBA has favorites in all of these cities both when it comes to clubs as investorsalthough no team has yet been officially confirmed. Adam Silver was asked about when the teams will be announced, a question in which he was told that there are a couple of potential investors who are getting impatient.

“As for potential investors, I’m not sure that they are necessarily getting impatient with the next season. I think that if it were up to at least some of them, we would wait longer to launch (the new league). At the same time, depending on where we are with the EuroLeague, I think it is important to introduce competition into the market next summer. The initial product that you would probably like to see in a year will be different from the one that we will finally have when we have gathered all the teams and are formally operating the league,” the executive explained.

“I think the answer is that we want to continue. As I alluded to earlier, there will be announcements in the coming months. Those conversations are moving forward and it seems that everything is taking longer than what people outside the league would like. These issues are complex. For us, as far as NBA Europe is concerned, we see it as a unique and historic opportunity from our point of view in terms of what it could mean not only for basketball, but also for the European sports landscape. And we want to do it well,” Silver also explained.

Virtual image of the exterior of the new Palau Blaugrana — This is what the new Palau Blaugrana would look like from the outsideMUNDODEPORTIVO.COM / Third parties

“For us, it’s making sure we’re thinking about all the different structural issues, how you approach a salary system among your players, how you add television rights, what should be done locally. There are plans for several new arenas around Europe,” the NBA commissioner added.

One of these new pavilions is that of Barça, which plans to be able to play in the new Palau Blaugrana between late 2029 and early 2030, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027.

“Again, I’m happy with the progress we’re making and I think our team owners are. At the same time, this will take some time before we’re ready to consolidate everything,” highlighted Adam Silver.

The NBA commissioner also referred again to the idea of combining existing clubs with new ones in NBA Europe. In this sense, and although the American league has not officially confirmed anything, the PSG and the new club that Luka Doncic wants to promote in Rome as one of its investors are candidates to be some of these new franchises.