During an international media call, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum unveiled new details about the NBA’s European League Plans. The NBA is preparing to launch the league in 2027, with the league’s structure, vision, and timeline, offering the clearest picture yet.
According to Tatum, the NBA European League will feature a diverse mix of teams drawn from four distinct categories:
- Renowned Basketball Clubs: like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona.
- Football Giants Entering Basketball: Global football brands such as Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are reportedly exploring the creation of basketball divisions to join the league.
- Investor-Led Expansion Teams: The league will also welcome newly formed clubs backed by individual investors or ownership groups. These franchises will be built from scratch, modeled after NBA-style operations with a focus on branding, youth development, and arena partnerships.
- Wild Cards: To preserve competitive integrity and grassroots excitement, the league will include wild card entries, such as the winner of the Basketball Champions League (BCL) and champions from domestic leagues who could qualify through a play-in tournament.
NBA EUROPEAN LEAGUE TO CONSIST OF:
– renowned basketball clubs (e.g Real, Barca)
– football teams that want to start basketball team (e.g. PSG, Man City)
– Single Person/investor group led new clubs
– Wild Cards (winner of BCL, Play-In Tournament of domestic league champs).
— Len Werle (@RealLennyCarlos) October 21, 2025
Tatum confirmed that the NBA has hired JP Morgan and Rain Group as financial advisors to structure the league’s business model. The goal is not just to launch a competition, but to build a sustainable ecosystem that includes:
- Investment in academies and youth development
- Construction and modernization of arenas across Europe
- Partnerships with local governments and federations
- Integration with NBA media platforms
“Our goal is to elevate basketball in Europe—not replace existing leagues, but complement them,” Tatum emphasized.
The newly licensed Great Britain Basketball League (GBBL) has announced its inaugural season will align with the NBA Europe launch in September 2027. London and Manchester are expected to host NBA Europe franchises, marking the first direct acknowledgment of UK-based teams in the league.
While the NBA insists its goal is not to compete with or replace the EuroLeague, some European basketball officials have expressed concern. EuroLeague Basketball released a statement warning of potential “fragmentation” of the sport, though others see the NBA’s entry as a chance to raise standards and visibility across the continent.
The next 18 months will be critical. The NBA is expected to finalize team selections, announce ownership groups, and begin infrastructure development. Preseason exhibitions and youth tournaments may be used to build momentum ahead of the 2027 tip-off.
