In a major development for global basketball, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) have jointly announced the next phase of their ambitious plan to create a new professional, pan-European men's basketball league. The organizations have set a crucial deadline in January to begin engaging with potential teams and ownership groups, officially opening the league's application process.
A New Vision for European Basketball
The proposed league is designed to integrate seamlessly into the existing European basketball landscape. A key feature is that clubs will continue to compete in their own domestic national leagues. The new entity will feature permanent franchises but, in a significant move, will also offer a merit-based pathway for all teams from FIBA-affiliated national leagues across Europe to qualify each year.
This qualification can be achieved either through a special end-of-season competition or via performance in FIBA's existing Basketball Champions League (BCL). This structure is intended to respect the traditional European sports model while creating new opportunities for ambitious clubs.
Syncing Calendars and Boosting Development
Addressing a common concern in international sports, the league's season will be synchronized with the calendars of domestic leagues and national team commitments. This scheduling is a deliberate move to enable players to represent both their club and national team throughout the year without conflict.
Beyond the competition itself, the NBA and FIBA have pledged to provide substantial resources and financial support to nurture the wider European basketball ecosystem. This investment will target the growth of domestic leagues, club academies, and existing programs run by both organizations aimed at developing players, coaches, and referees at all levels of the game.
Leadership Voices on the Project
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis expressed strong optimism about the project's progress. He stated that the league's format respects European sporting principles by offering a fair pathway to the top. Zagklis emphasized that the project is conceived to improve the sustainability of the entire ecosystem—benefiting players, clubs, leagues, and national federations—and will create a positive knock-on effect for fans across the continent.
For the NBA, this league represents Commissioner Adam Silver's most significant effort yet to expand the league's global footprint. Acknowledging the challenge of competing with the established EuroLeague, Silver highlighted the enormous opportunity identified through stakeholder conversations in Europe. "Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe," Silver said.
The announcement sets the stage for a transformative shift in European professional basketball. The NBA and FIBA have stated that more details about the league's structure and timeline will be released in the coming months as the application process gets underway.
