The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) are in the initial stages of exploring the creation of a new professional basketball league based in Europe. This was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis at a press conference on Thursday. According to Silver, discussions are preliminary, and no agreements have been made yet. They are currently in what he described as a `modeling, exploratory stage`.
Silver mentioned some initial ideas for the league, suggesting it could involve 16 teams from various European countries. Some of these teams might be existing EuroLeague participants, with reports suggesting possibilities like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, ASVEL Basket, and Fenerbahçe Istanbul. Additionally, the league could include newly formed teams, potentially located in major European cities that currently lack significant basketball teams.
The proposed structure could feature a core group of approximately 12 permanent teams, with additional slots available to teams based on their performance in national leagues or FIBA`s Basketball Champions League. Silver even jokingly referenced the concept of relegation, similar to European soccer leagues, as a potential aspect of this new basketball league.
Silver also addressed the differences between NBA and FIBA game rules, such as game duration (48 minutes in the NBA versus 40 in FIBA) and other rule variations. He indicated that the new league would likely adopt FIBA`s standards to respect the traditions of European basketball.
Regarding team ownership, Silver clarified that NBA owners would be involved in league management collectively, but not as individual team owners. Currently, there is no set timeline for the potential launch of such a league.
Basketball`s popularity has significantly increased in Europe in recent decades, and the continent produces a considerable amount of talent for the NBA. European basketball has a distinct structure compared to the American system, with top teams competing in national leagues and EuroLeague simultaneously. While these existing structures would likely remain, the introduction of a new NBA-FIBA league in Europe could further expand the NBA`s global reach, cultivate international talent, and potentially serve as a development pathway for players aspiring to join the NBA in the United States.
