EuroLeague clubs reject NBA Europe offer, leave door open

EuroLeague's 13 shareholder clubs on Tuesday rejected an NBA proposal to fold Europe's top club competition into the league's planned NBA Europe venture. The clubs also held off on a formal decision about expanding, so talks could still go on. The vote, taken near Lake Como in Cernobbio, Italy, raises the prospect of a fight for the continent's biggest teams, players and commercial money.reuters+1

Three sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic that the NBA's terms were "roundly rejected." One source called the outcome "expected," while another said there remains "a willingness to negotiate," but that owners "didn't like the terms". "A few clubs are anti-NBA Europe, but a bulk of the clubs (just) didn't like the proposal," one European team executive said. According to Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, the NBA submitted the offer two weeks ago and it was due to expire Tuesday. The clubs considered it financially unsatisfactory after a three-hour meeting at Villa d'Este, Anadolu Agency reported, citing the paper.nytimes+1

Expansion on pause

In a statement, EuroLeague said its shareholders agreed to convert their licences into franchises, giving them a more lasting stake in the league. They did not formally decide whether to grow the competition from 20 to 24 teams. Gazzetta reported that the NBA's offer had insisted that EuroLeague keep its current structure and not expand. A person who attended the meeting told Reuters that decisions on awarding up to eight new long-term licences would come within the next month. Attention now turns to whether the NBA makes a fresh offer before then.reuters+1

The league's statement did not mention the NBA offer. Last Friday, though, EuroLeague told Reuters it remained open to working together. The NBA did not immediately respond to Reuters. NBA Europe managing director George Aivazoglou is set to speak at a conference in London on Thursday.reuters

A 2027 launch in doubt

The NBA plans to launch a 16-team NBA Europe in 2027, with 12 permanent members and four places teams can earn through results. A source from a likely NBA Europe franchise told The Athletic that without a merger, an October 2027 launch would be "impossible". A senior sports executive told Reuters that any collaboration was unlikely before 2028.sports.yahoo+2

The two sides differ greatly in size. A JB Capital report commissioned by EuroLeague values the competition at €1.41 billion. Sports Value estimates that the NBA brought in more than $$14$$ billion dollars in revenue in the 2025-26 season.reuters

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has argued for a joint approach. "It doesn't have to happen, but I think we all would be better off as a unified front in Europe," he said after last month's Board of Governors meeting.sports.yahoo