European basketball could be approaching one of the most consequential decisions in its modern history, with EuroLeague club owners scheduled to meet on October 5 at Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, on Lake Como, to discuss the competition’s long-term direction.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the gathering will be organized by Olimpia Milano and is expected to focus on two potentially transformative paths: a possible NBA proposal involving the EuroLeague, or the league’s own plan to expand and move toward a more permanent franchise structure. Meetings at ownership level are comparatively rare, which gives the October summit added significance.
Italian reporting says EuroLeague shareholders could be asked to evaluate a potential offer connected to the league’s broader European ambitions following an upcoming NBA Board of Governors meeting. While the precise terms of any possible offer are not yet publicly known, owners are preparing to consider whether cooperation with the NBA could become the basis for the future of elite European club basketball, or whether EuroLeague should instead continue on its own path.
EuroLeague has already been developing that independent alternative. CEO Chus Bueno has presented a transformational strategy built around expansion and a shift toward a more stable franchise model. Official EuroLeague communication says eleven pre-accepted expansion candidates have submitted binding offers representing nearly €700 million in franchise fees, with expected investment exceeding €3.2 billion over the next five years. The league has projected that the combined value of EuroLeague and its clubs could reach €4.3 billion by 2027.
The competition could ultimately grow to 24 teams, with a significantly larger group of clubs receiving permanent status. Such a move would represent a major structural change for European basketball and would make the EuroLeague increasingly resemble the closed-franchise model that has long defined major North American sports leagues.
Bueno has previously made clear that EuroLeague intends to keep moving forward with its own strategy while remaining open to discussions with the NBA. That position underlines why the October meeting could become a genuine crossroads rather than a routine administrative session.
