NBA Europe at a crossroads: meeting with Euroleague on Tuesday regarding the US project
The outcome of the meeting could reshape the basketball landscape with plans for franchises and strategic alliances
Decisive days for the future of European basketball: next Tuesday at Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, the thirteen EuroLeague shareholder clubs will meet to assess the offer – subject to confidentiality clauses – received from the United States to create NBA Europe, the new league set to launch in the 2027/28 season. A meeting of owners organised by Olimpia Milano, which will be represented by Leo Dell’Orco, chairman of the Giorgio Armani Group, and senior executive Michele Tacchella.
The leaders of the NBA and the EuroLeague – Commissioner Adam Silver and CEO Chus Bueno, respectively – have repeatedly emphasised their desire to work together rather than become rivals. “We are making progress,” said Silver after the NBA owners’ meeting in September. “NBA Europe would be strengthened by a partnership with the EuroLeague. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” The NBA’s deputy commissioner, Mark Tatum, has been equally clear in recent days: “Our vision is to join forces with the EuroLeague, FIBA and the clubs to reshape the European basketball system together.”
But there are many issues to be resolved, as reported by ANSA, which has spoken to sources close to the matter: first and foremost, the NBA’s financial offer – split into two parts, an immediate cash payment and a portion linked to set targets – does not meet the owners’ initial expectations; furthermore, some consider the revenue forecasts for the new competition to be overly optimistic, both in terms of ticket sales and TV rights, without having seen the broadcasters’ bids.
The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting is unpredictable. The key for Europeans is to remain united and not to split the common front. The alternative plan has already been drawn up: expansion to 24 teams (and then up to 28) in the EuroLeague, with the creation of around twenty permanent franchises, eight of which are still to be allocated to join the thirteen shareholder clubs. In Italia, the clubs interested in this project are Virtus Bologna, Napoli and the two Rome-based teams: the BC led by Doncic and Nelson, and Maxima, led by Matiasic and Totti.
The future would look very different with NBA Europe: one team in Rome and one in Milan, with the possible inclusion of Varese in the negotiations, backed by the RedBird fund, owned by Gerry Cardinale, the owner of AC Milan. For the NBA, in fact, it would be crucial to secure partnerships with certain football clubs, such as PSG for Paris, to expand the fanbase involved in the new tournament.
