NBA Commissioner Adam Silver envisions a future where teams from across the globe, including those in NBA Europe and possibly the Basketball Africa League, could compete against NBA franchises-even in the playoffs.
Speaking Wednesday at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum at the United Nations, silver discussed the potential for a worldwide “confederation” of basketball teams. He proposed a midseason “NBA Cup” in Europe featuring clubs from multiple continents. “You could imagine teams from Europe, potentially Africa, competing in that tournament,” Silver said. “You possibly could see teams coming into our playoffs, top seeds from other leagues.”
Silver believes advancements in aviation technology will make increased transatlantic play feasible. He cited the New York to Los Angeles flight as a comparison, stating, “There’s no reason if we had four teams in Europe, you couldn’t travel, play the Knicks or Nets, travel to London, play three, four times in Europe, come back home. So I think it’s very doable in our league.”
The possibility of NBA expansion into Europe is “virtually imminent,” with JP Morgan and the Raine Group currently working to determine franchise market values. Silver reiterated that a key driver for expansion is the untapped commercial potential overseas. ”From a commercial standpoint, we haven’t seen the kind of development you’ve seen, particularly in the United States,” he explained. He noted a lack of modern arenas equipped with amenities like suites and restaurants, contrasting them with facilities in the U.S. While acknowledging improvements like the Bercy Arena in Paris (revitalized for the olympics) and London’s O2 Arena, Silver indicated a need for further arena development in major European capitals, ideally as multi-use facilities.
