The NBA is stepping up preparations for a potential European league, with senior leadership recently embarking on a tour of key basketball markets. Commissioner Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, and NBA Europe head George Aivazoglou visited several cities, with a particular focus on Real Madrid’s basketball division.
Real Madrid’s current Euroleague licence — the contract that ties them to Europe’s top-tier basketball competition — is set to expire in 2026. Given the club’s global profile, securing their involvement would be a major milestone for any NBA Europe launch.
Other target markets are believed to include Paris, where Qatar Sports Investments and Paris Saint-Germain could offer strong commercial synergies; Milan, home to RedBird Capital’s AC Milan; and London, a city where the NBA has long sought to establish a permanent presence. Additional interest extends to traditional basketball powerhouses in Greece and Turkey.
In a move that signals the seriousness of the project, the NBA has appointed Raine Group and JP Morgan as advisers for the European expansion strategy. While no official timeline has been confirmed, industry speculation suggests a possible launch within the next two to three years.
The prospect of an NBA-backed league in Europe comes at a time when Euroleague Basketball’s leadership, led by CEO Paulius Motiejūnas, is advocating for closer collaboration between the two organisations — a sign that the competitive landscape for professional basketball in Europe could soon change dramatically.
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