The NBA is accelerating plans to launch a 16-team league in Europe by the 2027 season, with Commissioner Adam Silver confirming that bids for 12 permanent franchises have reached or exceeded the $500 million to $1 billion range as the league prepares to finalize agreements in the coming weeks.
Expansion Targets and Financial Bids
As the league looks toward a 2027 launch, the NBA is currently reviewing bids for 12 permanent franchise spots in major European markets. The financial interest in the project has been significant, with the league reportedly receiving multiple bids in the $500 million to $1 billion range for each of the target cities.
Target cities for the initial rollout include Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, London, Lyon, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris, and Rome. While some of these locations are established basketball hubs, the list also features major European centers like London, Milan, and Rome, which have historically lacked a permanent high-level basketball presence.
Commissioner Adam Silver on League Consolidation
Speaking at the Board of Governors meetings in Las Vegas, Commissioner Adam Silver emphasized that the NBA intends to move forward with its European plans regardless of the current landscape of the EuroLeague. However, he noted that the league remains hopeful for a collaborative outcome.
“We began on this path saying that our plan was to go forward regardless of where the EuroLeague stood. But it was always our hope that we would be able to create some sort of consolidation of European basketball. I remain optimistic that we are going to be able to accomplish that.”
Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner
Silver added that the league is in the process of finalizing bids for an initial group of cities. With many European bidders expected to be in New York for the World Cup final this Sunday, the league aims to conclude several deals within the next few weeks.
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Operational Structure and FIBA Partnership
The proposed league will operate as a partnership with FIBA, basketball’s world governing body. The format calls for 12 permanent franchises alongside four annual qualifiers. According to recent reporting on the board meetings, the league plans to align its schedule with existing domestic and national team calendars to ensure players can participate in both NBA Europe and international competitions.
Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, who is spearheading the project, described the initiative as the biggest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen. The league anticipates that teams will be formed through a mix of existing football and basketball clubs as well as newly created franchises.
Growing Market Demand in Europe
The NBA’s push into Europe comes as the sport experiences rapid growth across the continent. Basketball is currently the second most popular sport in Europe, boasting more than 270 million fans. The league’s data highlights a surge in engagement, noting that for the 2025-26 season, Amazon Prime Video saw a 129% year-over-year increase in NBA viewership in the region.
This interest is bolstered by a record number of European players on NBA rosters, with 71 European players represented on opening-night rosters for the 2025-26 season. The league is positioning its new European venture to leverage this momentum while respecting the long-standing traditions of local basketball culture.
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