Sport · Singapore Bureau
EuroLeague ready to compete with NBA Europe if deal fails
EuroLeague Basketball has signalled it will not shy away from competing directly with a proposed NBA Europe league if partnership negotiations break down. The competition between the two basketball powerhouses could reshape professional basketball's landscape in Europe ahead of the planned 2027 launch.
LSN Singapore ·
LONDON — EuroLeague Basketball is prepared to launch a competitive challenge to NBA Europe should negotiations on a potential partnership fail, according to league chief executive Chus Bueno. The statement underscores mounting tensions between the established European basketball circuit and plans for a new league backed by FIBA, the sport's international governing body, and the National Basketball Association.
The NBA-FIBA initiative is scheduled to commence operations in October 2027, marking a significant expansion of professional basketball opportunities in Europe. The proposed league represents a strategic effort by the NBA to deepen its footprint on the continent, with FIBA's endorsement lending credibility to the venture.
Bueno's comments suggest EuroLeague Basketball views the planned competition as a potential threat to its current dominance of the European basketball market. The organization, which has operated as the premier professional basketball competition in Europe for decades, appears determined to protect its market position.
The standoff highlights a critical juncture for professional basketball in Europe, where stakeholders must determine the sport's competitive and commercial structure for the coming decade. Any partnership between EuroLeague and the proposed NBA Europe league would need to benefit both organizations, Bueno indicated, suggesting existing governance and commercial considerations remain unresolved.