CERNOBBIO, Italy, Oct 6 : The NBA’s try to reshape European basketball hit a roadblock on Tuesday as Euroleague shareholder golf equipment rejected a collaboration provide, elevating the prospect of a battle for the continent’s largest groups, gamers and industrial riches.
The door on a deal has but to be closed although.
The shareholder golf equipment additionally didn’t attain a proper determination on increasing the competitors from 20 to 24 groups as a part of an authorised plan, however the Euroleague did verify the choice to transform the 13 shareholder golf equipment into franchises in an announcement.
Representatives of the 13 everlasting shareholder golf equipment met close to Lake Como to debate the growth plan, with the prospect of an settlement with the NBA dominating discussions round the way forward for European basketball.
A senior sports activities government advised Reuters any collaboration between Euroleague and the NBA was unlikely earlier than 2028 due to the issue of organising a brand new competitors in time for the 2027-28 season.
The Euroleague didn’t point out the extensively reported NBA provide in its assertion, however advised Reuters final Friday it remained open to collaboration. Though the golf equipment rejected the present proposal, talks with the NBA might proceed.
The NBA didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.
The rejection is a major setback to makes an attempt to unite Europe’s established elite basketball competitors with the monetary and industrial energy of the NBA, which plans to launch a 16-team NBA Europe league in 2027.
SURGE OF INTEREST
The NBA has stepped up its push into Europe amid a surge of curiosity within the sport, with Euroleague reporting in Could an 82 per cent improve in TV viewership via the primary 25 regular-season rounds of the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
The NBA has additionally loved rising momentum on the continent. Streaming offers with suppliers like Amazon Prime have boosted audiences for the NBA in Europe, whereas regular-season video games in Berlin and London this 12 months highlighted the league’s rising enchantment.
Viewership of January’s conflict between Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies in London was up 90 per cent in comparison with the final NBA recreation there in 2019.
A report from JB Capital commissioned by the Euroleague values the competitors at €1.41 billion ($1,59 billion), whereas the mixture worth of its licensed groups was put at roughly €1.8 billion ($2,03 billion).
These figures pale compared to the NBA.
The NBA lately surpassed Main League Baseball to grow to be the world’s second-richest sports activities league, in line with Sports activities Worth, a advertising and valuation company, with upwards of $14 billion in income throughout the 2025-26 season.
The NBA and Euroleague have mentioned all through this 12 months that they wish to work collectively on a brand new competitors, however every has additionally made clear it’s ready to pursue its personal plans if no settlement is reached.
No deadline has been set for a deal, though the edges have indicated they need larger readability by the tip of the season.
Relating to Euroleague’s growth plan, an individual attending the assembly advised Reuters the choice on allocating extra long-term licences can be taken throughout the subsequent month.
The supply mentioned the Euroleague was eager to maneuver forward with growth and a focus will now be on whether or not the NBA submits a recent proposal earlier than these calls are made.
As much as eight extra long-term licences may very well be awarded. The remaining locations can be crammed via a mixture of short-term licences, wildcards and sporting qualification via the BKT EuroCup.
($1 = 0.8891 euros)
(Further reporting by Amy Tennery and Ruairidh Barlow, enhancing by Ed Osmond, Ken Ferris and Toby Davis)