NBA europe League Targeting 2027 Launch, Commissioner Adam Silver Confirms
NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reaffirmed the league’s commitment to launching a new European basketball league in collaboration with FIBA, with a target launch date of 2027. Silver acknowledged the ambitious timeline but stated the project remains on track, with 2028 as the absolute latest for commencement.
“Basketball is probably the sport that is growing mostly all over the world at this moment. Now it is in second place only behind football and therefore I think there is the concrete possibility of being able to create something that is accomplished,” Silver said at the Front Sports Office event.
The initiative aims to establish a 16-franchise league, including some entirely new teams. Reactions from prominent European clubs have been mixed. Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce have publicly pledged their continued allegiance to the EuroLeague, maintaining its position as the premier continental competition.
However, Barcelona and Real madrid have remained noncommittal, especially as their current ten-year contracts with the EuroLeague are set to expire in 2026.Olimpia Milan and ASVEL have requested additional time to thoroughly assess the implications of the new league before making a final decision.
Silver cautioned,”The outlook of a launch of the new championship in 2027 is undoubtedly ambitious,tending the issues still open to be addressed and resolved,but we cannot exclude that date. We do not want to go beyond 2028.”