NBA Europe12 cities. 12 slots.

How the league works

Where we are

• Mar 2025NBA and FIBA jointly announce they are exploring a new pan-European league.
• Dec 2025The two bodies confirm they will engage prospective teams and ownership groups.
• Feb 2026Bidding opens across the 12 target cities.
• 31 Mar 2026Non-binding bids due. More than 120 investors reported to have engaged.
• 30 Jun 2026Final bids close. Over 20 ownership groups submit across all 12 cities.
• 25 Aug 2026Euroleague Basketball advances eleven candidates to the binding-offer stage of its own expansion to 24 teams for 2027-28. Reported at close to €700m in franchise fees. Shortlist includes London Lions, Paris Basketball and a Rome entry.
• 10 Sep 2026EuroLeague owners' meeting set for 5 October at Villa d'Este, Lake Como. Gazzetta dello Sport reports the NBA is exploring an offer for a controlling interest in the competition.
• 15 Sep 2026NBA Board of Governors meets in New York. Adam Silver confirms ongoing negotiations with the EuroLeague, described in press-conference reporting as talks toward majority ownership. He says announcements are expected over the next several weeks, that NBA Europe launches in 2027 regardless of a deal, and that some potential investors would prefer a later launch.
• 27 Sep 2026The NBA sends the EuroLeague a formal offer for a joint European project. Terms undisclosed. Reported by Eurohoops, citing multiple sources.
• 28 Sep 2026Ninety days since bids closed, the outer edge of the 60–90 day window Mark Tatum indicated in late June. No franchise awarded.
• 6 Oct 2026EuroLeague owners meet at Villa d’Este, Cernobbio. The thirteen shareholder clubs reject the NBA’s offer as financially unsatisfactory; Gazzetta reports it carried a 6 October deadline and was conditional on the EuroLeague pausing its own expansion. The clubs postpone the 20-to-24-team decision — meeting that condition — while agreeing to move toward converting their thirteen 10-year licences into permanent franchises. Reuters reports fourteen bids received for a maximum of eight slots.
• 7 Oct 2026Barcelona confirms the rejection to the Associated Press, saying the clubs would reconsider an amended offer. L’Équipe reports the NBA offered each future member €400m.
• 8 Oct 2026The NBA and FIBA say in a joint statement that NBA Europe goes ahead with or without the EuroLeague. At Leaders Week London, George Aivazoglou says plans for a launch next year are on track. The EuroLeague is reported to be exploring a counter-proposal.
• 9 Oct 2026Adam Silver tells CNBC he is confident a deal with the EuroLeague will be worked out. The NBA still targets October 2027.
• Oct 2026The NBA and FIBA say NBA Europe will go ahead with or without the EuroLeague, with a launch still planned for next year. Talks remain possible.
• NextFranchise announcements — the clearest signal of which way this goes.
• 2026–27Qualifying season for the four non-permanent slots.
• Oct 2027Inaugural NBA Europe season tips off.

The open question

On 6 October, the EuroLeague's 13 shareholder clubs rejected the NBA's offer — a rejection Barcelona has since confirmed, while saying the clubs would reconsider an amended proposal. EuroLeague has agreed to move to permanent franchises, due to be ratified within 60 days, and is reported to be exploring a counter-proposal. The NBA and FIBA say NBA Europe goes ahead with or without a deal, and Adam Silver says he's confident something will be worked out. Meanwhile ESPN reports that a significant number of the shareholder clubs are interested in joining NBA Europe, and The Athletic reports direct talks with Real Madrid and Barcelona — two EuroLeague shareholders — as well as football clubs Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.