Four Euro powers are expected to join
NBA Europe is moving closer to reality, with four current EuroLeague teams reportedly set to join the new league. According to The AthleticsJoe Vardon, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne are expected to be among the founding members. Former EuroLeague team ALBA Berlin will also have a permanent spot.
These additions indicate that the NBA plans to build a strong foundation for its European division. The competition will feature at least some of Europe’s most established clubs, guaranteeing immediate credibility and fan interest.
Teams and cities revealed
George Aivazoglou, general manager of NBA Europe, confirmed that the target launch date is October 2027. The league plans to have twelve permanent teams spread across Europe’s major basketball markets.
“We are talking to some existing basketball teams. We are also talking to football clubs that have a strong brand but don’t have a basketball team… and there are places where we are starting from scratch,” Aivazoglou said. La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The selected cities are Rome, Milan, London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Istanbul. According to BasketNewsGalatasaray Istanbul is expected to be Turkiye’s sole representative, while Paris Basketball’s situation could depend on the NBA’s partnership talks with Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain.
A semi-open format with sporting merits
Aivazoglou revealed that NBA Europe will use a semi-open format with 16 teams – 12 permanent and 4 performance-based. “One is from the FIBA Basketball Champions League, our partner, and three more from domestic competitions,” he said. “That’s the most intriguing part, because it gives everyone something to strive for.”
Future matchups with NBA teams possible
The head of NBA Europe also hinted at a possible competition between American and European clubs. “It would be a new league that brings together NBA and NBA Europe teams – over time, an NBA Cup format… as part of an increasingly integrated framework,” Aivazoglou said.
If all goes according to plan, NBA Europe could reshape global basketball by uniting powerful clubs and bringing the NBA brand directly to European fans.
#NBA #Europe #Major #EuroLeague #clubs #among #founding #teams