In a bold step toward expanding the global footprint of professional basketball, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Thursday that the league is exploring the creation of a new European basketball competition, in collaboration with FIBA, the sport’s international governing body.
“We feel now is the time to move to that next stage,” Silver said Thursday in a press conference. “At our board meeting today, there was enthusiastic support from our club owners about continuing to explore this opportunity.”

According to Silver, the proposed league would feature 16 teams, 12 of which would be permanent franchises, with major markets like Paris and London primed for inclusion. This plan builds on months of discussions with European clubs, investors—including those from the world of soccer—and FIBA officials.

Silver’s vision for the league includes a salary cap system, with NBA owners holding equity in the league but not in individual clubs. While no formal agreements have been made, the commissioner emphasized that his pitch was met with enthusiasm from the NBA’s board of governors, signaling strong internal support for the venture. “It’s early days,” Silver remarked, underscoring that the league is still in its exploratory phase. “So literally nothing has been agreed upon yet. We’re still in the modeling, exploratory stage. One thing I know is important is we want to honor the tradition of European sport.”

The proposed league would differ from the NBA in its game structure, with 40-minute games and a FIBA-style play that honors European basketball’s unique appeal. Silver has also pointed to potential partnerships with wealthy investors, such as Qatar Sports Investments, which has expressed interest in a Paris franchise, and Middle Eastern soccer moguls tied to Premier League clubs.

Though the EuroLeague remains a formidable competitor, with teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona already entrenched, Silver’s initiative could significantly alter the landscape of European basketball. By introducing a hybrid system with both closed and open franchises, the new league could bring fresh competition and financial sustainability to the sport, despite lingering tensions with existing EuroLeague structures.

As Silver continues to seek approval from NBA owners, the potential for a European league represents a bold move to harness basketball’s untapped marketing power across the continent, aligning with the NBA’s broader vision of global growth.