The NBA’s long-rumored expansion into Europe is no longer just a whisper, it’s a full-throated pitch with a jaw-dropping price tag. According to multiple reports, the league is seeking franchise fees of $500 million or more for each team that joins its proposed NBA Europe venture.
Commissioner Adam Silver, along with Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, has spent the summer crisscrossing Europe, meeting with elite clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Fenerbahçe, and ASVEL Basket. The pitch? Join a new NBA-affiliated European league, at a cost of $500 million to $1 billion per franchise.
This figure dwarfs previous expansion fees and reflects the NBA’s confidence in its brand power. For comparison, domestic expansion teams in cities like Seattle or Las Vegas are expected to command much larger fees, but NBA owners would have to share national media revenue. With NBA Europe, they get massive upfront profits without diluting existing revenue streams.
Rather than building teams from scratch, the NBA is targeting established EuroLeague clubs with deep fan bases and infrastructure. Real Madrid, with its 11 EuroLeague titles, is seen as a cornerstone candidate. ASVEL, owned by NBA legend Tony Parker, is also reportedly eager to join.
The league would feature 8 to 10 teams, including up to four EuroLeague defectors, and new franchises in cities like London, Paris, and potentially Berlin. The NBA would retain 50% equity, with franchise owners holding the other half, a model designed to attract sovereign wealth funds, private equity, and global investors.
Not everyone is sold. EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas has criticized the NBA’s approach, warning that it could fragment the European basketball ecosystem and confuse fans with overlapping competitions. Some EuroLeague executives have scoffed at the $500 million fee, citing the revenue gap between European clubs and NBA franchises.
Still, the NBA is betting that its brand, business acumen, and access to global capital will bridge that divide. Meetings with investment giants like CVC, RedBird, Bridgepoint, and KKR suggest serious financial backing is in play.
The timing isn’t coincidental. The NBA estimates that the European and Middle Eastern basketball markets could generate up to $3 billion annually. With over 60 European players currently in the NBA, including stars like Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama, the league sees Europe not just as fertile ground, but as a natural extension of its global brand.
There’s also a defensive angle. Rumors of a Saudi-backed rival league, potentially involving LeBron James and Maverick Carter, have reportedly accelerated the NBA’s push into Europe. By locking in top clubs and investors now, the NBA hopes to preempt any competition.
While no formal vote has been scheduled, NBA owners are reviewing the proposal. If approved, NBA Europe could launch as early as 2028, coinciding with the Los Angeles Olympics.
