EuroLeague owners reject NBA’s first NBA Europe proposal

EuroLeague shareholder club owners meeting in Italy have rejected the NBA’s initial bid to tie Europe’s top club competition into the planned NBA Europe project. The decision, reported by Eurohoops, comes as the EuroLeague publicly emphasizes its own expansion and governance plans rather than a merger with the NBA’s new venture.

In a press release following the meeting, the EuroLeague confirmed that its 13 current shareholder clubs will move toward permanent franchise status. The league also reaffirmed its intention to grow from 20 to 24 teams for the 2027-28 season, reinforcing an independent roadmap that appears to clash with conditions reportedly attached to the NBA’s offer.

Proposal rejected, but talks with NBA remain open

Although the NBA’s first proposal has been turned down, EuroLeague owners are not ruling out working with the NBA in the future. According to Eurohoops and The Athletic, shareholders remain open to further talks on NBA Europe despite this initial rejection. One European team executive told The Athletic, “A few clubs are anti-NBA Europe, but a bulk of the clubs (just) didn’t like the proposal.”

Specifics of the NBA’s pitch remain limited, but The Athletic notes that Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport reported the proposal was tied to the EuroLeague keeping its current format and shelving its expansion plans. Meanwhile, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and his staff are said to be intent on moving ahead with NBA Europe, targeting a tentative launch in fall 2027.

NBA Europe plans, city targets and EuroLeague teams in play

That timeline is already being questioned from within the NBA Europe concept itself. A source from a club expected to be part of the new league told The Athletic that an October 2027 launch would be “impossible” without a merger or deep integration with the EuroLeague, underlining how central existing EuroLeague brands are to the project’s viability.

The NBA is planning a 16-team European competition with 12 permanent members, and cities most often cited as targets include Paris, London, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Milan, Munich, Berlin, Lyon and Manchester. However, a source familiar with the NBA’s thinking told The Athletic those markets are not guaranteed, as bids from other cities are also under review. The Athletic adds that at least six EuroLeague clubs are considering a move to NBA Europe, setting up a pivotal tug-of-war over where Europe’s top teams will align in the coming years.