NBA‘s plans to establish a league in Europe continue to have a great impact in the basketball world.
Statements by NBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis show that this project is serious and that NBA officials continue their negotiations with FIBA. The NBA’s desire to cooperate with teams in Europe has the potential to create a huge change for the future of European basketball. This step by the NBA could seriously affect the structure of European basketball and reshape the competitive level of the leagues.
NBA’s New League in Europe: Target and Participants
The new league that the NBA plans to establish in Europe draws attention especially with the inclusion of EuroLeague teams. According to the claim made by the Spanish source Relevo, NBA, Turkish Airlines EuroLeague‘s giant clubs Fenerbahçe BekoHe is in talks with Panathinaikos and Real Madrid. In addition to these three clubs, other clubs with A license in the EuroLeague may also be involved in this process. The A license entitles clubs to permanent participation in the EuroLeague and means that these teams are the most important players in the league. After the A licenses expire in 2026, the negotiations with the clubs that will be included in this new league of the NBA in Europe may shape the future of European basketball. This can be seen as an effort to increase the NBA’s dominance in Europe.
EuroLeague and A License Problem
The fact that the agreements of clubs with A licenses in the EuroLeague expire in the summer of 2026 increases the uncertainty in this process. Although there have been recent reports that the EuroLeague is trying to make new 10-year license agreements with clubs with A licenses, these agreements have not been officially signed yet. Although the EuroLeague aims to provide stability by offering long-term contracts to clubs, the NBA’s plans to establish a new league in Europe may pose a major obstacle to this strategy. If the NBA establishes a new league with EuroLeague clubs, the current structure and agreements of the EuroLeague could be under great threat.
2026-2027 Season: NBA’s Goal
It is stated that the NBA plans to start its new league in Europe in the 2026-2027 season. This could further intensify the rivalry between the EuroLeague and the NBA. The EuroLeague’s current contracts, which run through 2026, do not seem to prevent the NBA from accelerating these plans. This new league of the NBA in Europe may bring a new breath to European basketball, but it also means a major transformation for existing leagues and clubs. This change can have a great impact both in terms of the economic structures of the clubs and their fan base.
As a result, the NBA’s plan to establish a league in Europe creates uncertainty for the future of the EuroLeague and current league structures. The selection of the clubs that will be included in this new league and how the NBA will manage this process will play a key role in shaping European basketball.
Kaynak: Relovo & Eurohoops
