Europe League Advances
Commissioner Silver Confirms NBA Europe League Remains On Track for 2027-28 Launch
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the NBA’s planned independent league in Europe remains on schedule to launch in the 2027-28 season, with franchise bids due at the end of June and franchise awards expected in the fall. The league would include 16 teams—12 permanent franchises plus four additional spots open to any European club—backed by record interest. Silver said talks to integrate operations with EuroLeague are ongoing, but the NBA would proceed regardless. The effort has been energized by Victor Wembanyama’s profile in San Antonio, citing the Spurs’ upcoming France and England games and strong early ticket demand. Silver also pointed to emerging ownership links, including Luka Dončić’s purchase of an Italian team and Kevin Durant’s stake in Paris Saint-Germain, adding that any role for active players would require NBPA approval after franchises are awarded.
Key Points
Silver said the Europe venture is a joint effort involving the NBA and FIBA (the sport’s global governing body), adding that the NBA is “working closely with FIBA, our federation.”
Silver said the NBA is already reviewing its “first round of bids,” with the franchise application process continuing toward final bids due at the end of June.
Silver reported that the NBA has received multiple bids “between $500 million and $1 billion” for the European franchises.
Beyond ticket demand, coverage highlighted Wembanyama’s impact on local viewing interest: games in his native France can start as late as 2:30 a.m., yet fans are still planning watch parties. Separate reporting also said tickets for the Spurs’ January 2025 Paris games (vs. the Pacers) were “snapped up quickly.”
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