The NBA’s attempt to build a closer relationship with the EuroLeague has run into significant resistance, with virtually all shareholder clubs reportedly rejecting the league’s current proposal in its present form.
According to various reports, several EuroLeague stakeholders consider the offer inadequate, with some describing it as “unacceptable” and even “colonialist.” The criticism comes as the NBA continues laying the groundwork for its planned European competition, widely referred to as NBA Europe.
The proposal reportedly envisioned EuroLeague remaining structurally intact, including the status of its 13 shareholder clubs. However, the issue appears to be less about preserving the existing framework and more about the terms of any potential cooperation with the NBA. Some clubs believe the current offer does not give EuroLeague enough value or influence in the relationship.
The clubs are not united on how aggressively to respond. Panathinaikos, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce and Bayern Munich are reportedly open to continuing discussions if the NBA returns with improved terms. Real Madrid is said to have requested another 30 days for the NBA to produce a better proposal. Olympiacos, Olimpia Milano and Barcelona have taken a harder line, with Barcelona reportedly dismissing the offer as “a joke.”
Olympiacos reportedly went even further by pushing for a vote that would have ended negotiations altogether. That effort did not succeed. Instead, the EuroLeague shareholders chose to keep the door open and allow the NBA another opportunity to improve its offer.
The timing is important. October 6 had reportedly been set as the deadline for EuroLeague to respond, while the NBA is continuing preparations for a potential launch of NBA Europe in the 2027-28 season. The proposed competition is expected to feature 12 permanent franchises and four additional qualifying spots.
Crucially, NBA Europe is reportedly expected to move forward even if no agreement with EuroLeague is reached. FIBA is cooperating with the NBA on the broader European project, though it is not directly involved in the bilateral negotiations between the NBA and EuroLeague.
