Currently, the NBA offseason is in full swing. Teams from all over the NBA have been involved in major trades. The Portland Trail Blazers traded for Ja Morant to pair with Deni Avdija after his breakout year. Kawhi Leonard has returned to the Toronto Raptors, seven years after he won the NBA Finals in his sole season with the NBA’s only Canadian team. And the Miami Heat made the much-anticipated trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo after his falling out with the Milwaukee Bucks.
However, the ball never stops rolling, and this is especially true in the NBA. While exploring the addition of expansion teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, the NBA also plans on launching a European basketball league by October 2027.
NBA Europe Markets Receive Billion-Dollar Bids, As Expansion Talk Intensifies
A joint effort with FIBA, the global governing body of basketball, the NBA plans on the European league having 16 teams, with 12 permanent teams and four rotational spots, which will be decided by a system of promotion and relegation, as done in European football (soccer).
So what are the latest developments surrounding the NBA’s European expansion?
The Bidding War Heats Up
According to ESPN, the NBA’s European basketball league has received finalized bids from more than 20 different groups competing to be a part of the league. Locations that the NBA is currently exploring include London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome, Istanbul, Barcelona, Manchester, Lyon, and Athens.
The latest bids for the franchises came in at $500 million or more for each of the 12 target cities that the NBA is exploring. Multiple locations had bids of over $1 billion. Eligible groups submitted bids in all 12 locations.
European teams could earn themselves a spot in NBA Europe by winning a tournament comprising domestic champions or by winning the FIBA Basketball Champions League. The 16 teams in the league will participate in a round-robin regular season and a multi-round playoff that culminates in the finals.
Moreover, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and NBA executive Donnie Nelson are a part of the ownership group that purchased Vanoli Cremona in Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A. Former Vanoli player Rimantas Kaukėnas, as well as long-time coach Valerio Bianchini, are also part of the group that plans to move the club to Rome, where the team will play the 2026-27 season.
Nelson had this to say when speaking about moving the team to Rome.
“Rome deserves world-class basketball, and we are excited to be bringing it back. Vanoli Cremona has a proud history, and we are committed to honoring that legacy as we build toward an exciting future in Rome. This city has been without top-flight basketball for too long. That changes now. We are bringing the resources, the expertise, and the passion to make this club a source of pride for Rome and for all Italy.”
Additionally, the group announced that they have submitted a bid to become NBA Europe’s team in Rome.
“I have dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time; to finally have this happen is amazing,” Dončić said in a statement.
“Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have an amazing group of partners, and I really believe we can do something special for basketball in Italy and Europe.”
Mark Tatum’s Optimistic Update
NBA deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum recently offered a reassuring update on NBA Europe’s progress.
“We’re extremely encouraged by the final bids we received for permanent franchises in a new NBA and FIBA-backed league in Europe, which reflect the tremendous interest and momentum around this project. This will be the biggest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen, and we have clear frontrunners in each of our 12 target cities, including many existing basketball and football clubs. We will now work with the NBA and FIBA Boards to finalize the long-form agreements.”
The NBA’s Board of Governors and FIBA are expected to begin selecting the winning bids soon. The announcements for these franchises will be made on a rolling basis.
Multiple EuroLeague teams have expressed interest in joining NBA Europe for its first season. These teams have exit clauses in their EuroLeague contracts that allow them to leave the organization for the NBA’s European league.
“We’ve only heard the plan or the fireworks of how amazing it will be, how much potential there is. But having a theory is one, and making it work is two.” EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas said in an interview earlier this year.
As the NBA looks to expand its global footprint, its latest international project shows much promise as a breath of fresh air into the European basketball landscape.
Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
