The NBA and FIBA reaffirmed plans to move forward with NBA Europe while keeping the door open to a three-way agreement with EuroLeague after clubs rejected the current proposal but agreed to continue talks.
The NBA and FIBA have reaffirmed their commitment to launching a new professional basketball league in Europe while once again calling for a potential three-way partnership with EuroLeague.
“A partnership between the EuroLeague, FIBA, and the NBA to unify the European basketball ecosystem would unlock the game’s enormous potential across Europe for the benefit of clubs, players, and, most importantly, fans,” the NBA and FIBA said in a joint statement.
“The NBA and FIBA remain committed to moving forward with a new professional men’s league in Europe and helping build a stronger, more sustainable basketball ecosystem alongside partners who share our vision of growth, opportunity and the core principles of the European sports model.”
This statement comes after this week’s EuroLeague shareholders’ meeting in Cernobbio, on Lake Como, where clubs rejected the NBA’s current conditions for a joint competition but agreed to continue negotiations.
EuroLeague preparing counteroffer after Lake Como meeting
According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, the EuroLeague’s decision not to accept the NBA’s current conditions should not be viewed as the end of negotiations.
Instead, EuroLeague shareholders are expected to return to the negotiating table in the coming weeks with a counteroffer.
BasketNews sources indicated that the NBA’s latest proposal represented a significant improvement from the earliest stages of negotiations, but substantial differences remain between the sides.
Credit Euroleague Basketball
NBA Europe launch could move to 2028
The outcome of these negotiations could also impact the launch timeline for NBA Europe.
The NBA has been working toward launching the competition in 2027 and continues to develop the project independently of its discussions with EuroLeague.
However, Donatas Urbonas reports that if the NBA and EuroLeague don’t reach an agreement and the NBA ultimately launches a completely separate competition, NBA Europe’s debut could be pushed from 2027 to 2028, even though the NBA continues to push for a 2027 launch – something NBA’s Commissioner Adam Silver noted once again in his recent press conference.
The NBA Doesn’t Understand European Basketball
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