The NBA is preparing to launch a European basketball league featuring elite football clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Talks are underway with major investors as part of an ambitious plan to expand basketball’s global reach, with the first season of ‘NBA Europe’ expected to tip off in 2027.
NBA’s Europe project gains momentum
The NBA is set to launch a groundbreaking new basketball league in Europe, with top football clubs and major investors involved in the project. According to multiple reports, the new competition, tentatively called NBA Europe, is planned to begin in 2027, marking a historic step in the NBA’s global expansion strategy.
Among the clubs expected to join are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Fenerbahce, with Italian giants AC Milan and Inter also in discussions about forming a joint Milan-based franchise, as per Talks between NBA commissioner Adam Silver and RedBird Capital founder Gerry Cardinale, who owns AC Milan, have intensified in recent weeks, with reports confirming that Oaktree, Inter’s financial backers, are also keen to participate.
The NBA plans to create permanent franchises in 10 to 12 European cities, with London, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Munich among the leading candidates. Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum revealed that the initiative aims to merge the NBA’s commercial expertise with Europe’s growing basketball culture.
AdvertisementAFPWhat NBA executives said about the project
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum has shed light on the league’s vision for the new competition, confirming that NBA Europe could officially tip off “within two years,” pending approval from FIBA and the NBA’s board of governors.
“The initial plan is to have permanent teams in 10-12 cities, primarily in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany, perhaps Turkey and Greece,” Tatum told international media. “We’re envisioning a mix of existing teams, new teams, and football clubs that also want to invest in basketball.”
Tatum added that the league’s structure will include both permanent and merit-based slots. “There will be four open spots assigned annually based on sporting merit. This is the beginning, but we hope to double the number of permanent teams in seven to ten years so other countries can also be involved.”
Franchise fees are expected to range between €250 million and €500 million, while some reports suggest the total investment could reach as high as $1 billion depending on market demand.
European giants join the race
Interest in NBA Europe has surged across Europe’s biggest football institutions. AC Milan and Inter are reportedly in talks to co-own a Milanese franchise, with Cardinale and NBA commissioner Silver recently meeting in New York to discuss logistics.
Inter’s investors, Oaktree Capital, headquartered in Los Angeles, are also eyeing the opportunity to extend the club’s sporting footprint into basketball. “They’re interested and will certainly play their cards,” Italian outlet reported.
Meanwhile, Madrid and Barcelona, both long-established basketball powers, are expected to play crucial roles as anchor teams, potentially bringing massive fan engagement to the project. Bayern Munich and PSG, both financially strong and globally recognised, also fit the NBA’s ideal franchise model.
As per reports, joining the league will cost upwards of €250 million per team, but the long-term commercial potential is seen as enormous. With NBA games already popular across European cities, the league hopes to leverage local fanbases while introducing NBA-style marketing and media production.
Getty Images SportHow EuroLeague and FIBA Fit In
A major question surrounding NBA Europe is its relationship with existing competitions like the EuroLeague and FIBA’s Basketball Champions League. Tatum addressed this concern directly, saying: “We believe that in the basketball system we envision, there’s room for every club in Europe, including those in the EuroLeague. We’ll continue to work with FIBA and EuroLeague to find a solution.”
NBA commissioner Silver, speaking on , played down fears that the new league would compete with the NBA for talent. “The NBA is so big, so global, the pay is so high. I think it’s highly unlikely any players would forego the NBA to play in Europe. But if some players extended their careers in Europe, that would be fantastic,” Silver said.
If successful, NBA Europe could transform basketball’s global ecosystem and give European fans their own elite NBA-style competition. The first games are projected to take place in autumn 2027, potentially featuring powerhouse clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, signalling a seismic shift in global sport.