The project to create a new pan-European professional men’s basketball league (NBA Europe) is entering its most concrete phase. NBA and FIBA have announced that starting in January they will intensify discussions with clubs and ownership groups interested in joining a Europe-wide competition designed to reshape the balance of continental basketball.

The stated goal is clear: to build a league that does not break with the European sports model, but instead enhances it by integrating with national leagues and existing FIBA competitions.

Merit-based access and connection with national leagues

One of the central elements of the project concerns the qualification system. Alongside a limited number of permanent spots, the new league would guarantee annual, merit-based access to teams from all FIBA-affiliated national leagues.

Qualification would come through:

  • the Basketball Champions League (BCL), or
  • an end-of-season qualification tournament

A choice that reinforces sporting merit and avoids the risk of a closed system, often criticized in the European debate.

Coordinated calendar and the central role of national teams

Another key point is calendar alignment. The new league would be designed to coexist with domestic championships and national team windows, allowing players to represent both clubs and national teams throughout the season.

This addresses one of the most debated issues in recent years and could help reduce tensions between federations, clubs, and international competitions.

Investments in the European basketball system

The project would go beyond the creation of the league itself. NBA and FIBA plan to allocate financial and structural resources to the development of the entire European basketball ecosystem:

  • support for national leagues
  • investments in club academies
  • strengthening existing programs for the development of players, coaches, and referees

An approach aimed at overall sustainability, not just the elite level.

Zagklis: “An open and sustainable model”

FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis highlighted the systemic value of the initiative:

The league format respects the principles of the European sports model, offering every ambitious club a fair pathway to the top. It is a project designed to improve the sustainability of the entire European basketball ecosystem

Andreas Zagklis

Silver: “A huge opportunity for basketball in Europe”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver echoed this view, emphasizing how discussions in Europe have reinforced confidence in the project:

Our conversations with European stakeholders have confirmed that there is a huge opportunity. Together with FIBA, we want to engage clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe

Adam Silver

Next steps

Further official updates are expected in the coming months, but the message is already clear: January will be a decisive turning point. What began as a theoretical exploration is now moving into an operational phase, with potentially profound consequences for the future of European basketball.