NBA Europe May Lift 20% Sovereign Wealth Cap on US Teams

January 26, 2026 Alex Carter - Sports Editor Sport
  • Sovereign wealth funds limited to 20% ownership of NBA teams
  • League considering investors currently restricted in the US
  • NBA pursuing diverse broadcast partnerships for new European league

National Basketball association (NBA) commissioner Adam Silver has stated that sovereign wealth investment in the planned European basketball league could influence investment rules within the NBA itself.

Currently,sovereign wealth funds are capped at 20% ownership of NBA franchises. Though, Silver indicated that involvement in NBA Europe could prompt a reevaluation of thes restrictions for north American teams.

The NBA is actively engaging with state-backed funds regarding investment in NBA Europe, utilizing its international games as opportunities to connect with investors, broadcasters, and sponsors.

Silver identified Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), owned by qatar Sports investments (QSI), as a potential investor.

“We’ve seen success with sovereign wealth funds owning teams,like PSG,” Silver said. “We may learn practices in Europe that we can apply in the United States over time.”

“This means approaching this prospect in Europe with a fresh perspective.”