The keys to the current disagreement between the Euroleague and the NBA

The Euroleague ownership clubs decided to reject for now the NBA’s offer to jointly organize their new NBA Europe European league at the summit held in Cernobbio, on the banks of the Lake Como (Italy). In the other two important decisions that were made, the 13 members of the Euroleague agreed to move forward with their franchise conversion process and with the expansion of the number of franchises, which aims to result in the addition of eight more teams after receiving offers from 13 clubs. The top continental competition plans to expand its format 20 to 24 participants starting next season.

The Euroleague did not mention anything in its statement about the NBA proposal, which was information revealed by Greek media SDNA and that MD could confirm. Sources close to the process affirm that the big point of disagreement is the fact that the NBA wanted the Euroleague to put its expansion on pause. The reform plans of the European entity clash with those of the American league, which wants to start its NBA Europe project in October 2027 with 16 teams with 12 fixed franchises plus four who enter by classification system. The Basketball Champions League of the FIBA ​​and the national leagues would be the access route. The NBA’s plan is to expand its number of participants little by little.

However, the Euroleague’s refusal is not a resounding ‘no’, since behind closed doors the European entity remains open to dialogue with the NBA and awaits a meeting with the American league for which there is still no date. At the time of going to press, the NBA had not yet commented on the matter.

The CEO of the Euroleague, Chus Buenohas a close relationship with the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver due to his past working for the American league, but a year after the start of NBA Europe there is still no agreement. The NBA has already said that it will make its project a reality in the Old Continent whether with the Euroleague or not, which outlines a possible future scenario of two separate top-level competitions in Europe, just as happened in the 2000-2001 season with the Euroleague and the Suproleague of FIBA. FIBA is a partner of the American league in its European project, but does not participate in the negotiations between the NBA and Euroleague. This was confirmed by the president of FIBA ​​Europe, Jorge Garbajosa.

The clubs showed different points of view at the Euroleague summit within the common position of rejecting the NBA offer. He Barça objected and, according to SDNA, that was also the case for Olympiakos and Olimpia Milano, while other clubs such as real MadridPanathinaikos, Fenerbahçe and Bayern were in favor of continuing with the negotiations, giving the NBA the opportunity to present an offer with better conditions. TheAthletic points out that there are six Euroleague teams that are considering joining NBA Europe, although that is compatible with the fact that at this moment these same clubs have not yet seen the NBA proposal.

In contrast to the new format that the Euroleague is heading towards, the American league wants fixed franchises in each of its 12 target citieswhich are Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Rome, Milan, London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Istanbul.

The NBA has assured that it has both favorite clubs and investors for each of these cities and among the clubs there are both historical European football and basketball teams and newly created entities, receiving offers from investors that even exceed 1,000 million dollars. However, the American league has not confirmed any participants so far.

PSG, with Kevin Durant as a shareholder, and the new club of Rome with Luka Doncic as an investor, they are some of the new franchises that aim to play in NBA Europe. According to TheAthletiche Manchester City has also expressed interest.

One of the strategic pillars of the NBA is to enter new markets without a team competing at the highest level, something that the Euroleague clearly also contemplates with its expansion plans including franchises from cities like London and Rome just as the NBA also intends.