Euroleague clubs reject the NBA offer

On Tuesday, the 13 shareholder clubs of the Euroleague met in Cernobbio, Italy, and rejected the NBA's proposal to combine into a single European competition. Franceinfo reports the rejection was unanimous, and Ouest France reports that a source close to the negotiations considered the offer unacceptable. One participant, in remarks reported by several media outlets and cited by Ouest France, called the proposal colonialist. The Euroleague said the door to negotiations remains open. Talks could continue, but no deadline for an agreement has been set.

NBA and FIBA stay the course

On Thursday, the NBA and FIBA issued a joint statement saying they remain committed to a new professional men's league in Europe. The statement argues that a partnership between the Euroleague, FIBA and the NBA would unlock the sport's enormous potential across Europe for clubs, players and fans. It also refers to partners who share a vision of growth, opportunity and the core principles of the European sports model. The NBA has said it wants to move forward with its NBA Europe project in 2027 whether or not a deal is reached. If no deal is found, NBA Europe and the Euroleague would enter direct competition.

Plans for NBA Europe

Speaking at the Leaders Week sports industry conference in London, held at Stamford Bridge, George Aivazoglou, the NBA's managing director for Europe and the Middle East, confirmed the league is moving ahead with plans for a launch next year. The league would start with 16 teams, 12 of them permanent franchises in Paris, Lyon, London, Manchester, Berlin, Munich, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Milan and Rome, plus four places earned through sporting qualification. Franceinfo gives the planned launch as autumn 2027.

Aivazoglou said the league would reward teams through qualification on sporting merit more than the Euroleague setup. He described a domestic champion, using Spain as the example, that would never play in the Euroleague, while other clubs keep places despite poor domestic results. He said the NBA was keen to keep talking with anyone who shares its view of the problem.

We're very serious and consistent in terms of our intention to work with everybody who shares our vision of the future.

He also argued that European basketball is not reaching its potential.

There is a serious value gap for European basketball. We don't think it's reaching its potential.

The Euroleague's own expansion

Franceinfo reports that the Euroleague plans to grow from 20 to 24 teams in the 2027-28 season, with the 13 shareholder clubs converted into franchises with long-term licences valid until 2036, plus eight new franchises and three invited teams. The Euroleague's official statement said the clubs will become franchises, but the plan to expand from 20 to 24 teams has not been formally approved. Unofficially, a decision on additional long-term licences is expected within a month, and as many as eight could be granted. A senior Euroleague official told Reuters that cooperation starting before 2028 is unlikely, because organising a new competition for 2027-28 would be hard in so short a time. A senior executive at a Euroleague club told Reuters he expected the NBA to return with an improved offer, and that the 13 clubs are committed to deciding together.

What remains open

The NBA has not officially commented on the Euroleague's decisions, and FIBA said at this stage it would not comment. Unofficially, Euroleague representatives have said they remain open to cooperation even after rejecting the current proposal. Talks could continue, but neither side has set a deadline for a deal. Without an agreement, NBA Europe and the Euroleague would compete directly once the 2027 launch goes ahead. The window for any deal is narrowing as the European landscape shifts.