NBA, FIBA Announce Next Step to Creating a European League

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced their next steps forward to making a separate NBA league in Europe.

NBA and FIBA Announce European League Plans

NBA commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA secretary general Andreas Zagklis discussed the two organizations’ plans to expand the NBA into the European scene. The two sat on a dais in New York on Thursday afternoon and discussed what this new NBA league would look like, although they did not announce any concrete dates.

The idea of the NBA expanding into the European landscape has been floated around for years. Basketball has been growing in popularity on the Old Continent for many years, and Europe has produced many professional NBA players. About 15% of the players in the NBA right now are from the continent. Some popular names include Denver’s Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), each claiming five of the last six MVP awards.

Silver explained that basketball ranks as the second most popular sport in Europe, with a vast following spanning hundreds of millions of fans. He reaffirmed the fact that many NBA players come from European countries and often achieve amazing results. However, there remains a significant disparity between the level of interest in the sport and the development of league operations in North America, he explained.

Zagklis echoed Silver’s words, saying that despite FIBA running competitions for almost seven decades, since the 1957-58 season, the popularity of basketball isn’t as high as in the US. Despite the emergence of exceptional players, it has become evident that the popularity of the sport has not kept pace with its success. The achievements in national team competitions have not been matched by a corresponding increase in fan interest. Additionally, the commercial impact of these successes remains limited.

What Will the European League Look Like?

When it comes to the format of the upcoming European NBA League, nothing is yet set in stone. However, the two officials said that the league will be 16 teams, with 12 permanent teams and four clubs that would be “in position to play on a yearly basis.” These four will be determined through relegation, a system common in European leagues but absent in major U.S. sports. In addition, the league would probably adopt FIBA rules, including a 40-minute game, as opposed to the NBA’s 48-minute format.

The new league will also likely feature some form of NBA branding due to the league’s widespread recognition. Existing teams will compete in their respective national leagues, as well as participate in the European one. Both the NBA and FIBA would contribute funding and resources to further develop the sport in Europe, expanding team academies and enhancing existing programs aimed at supporting players, coaches, and referees.