The NBA has taken a historic step toward the full globalization of basketball by confirming its plans to launch a new European league that will begin operations in 2027. According to Commissioner Adam Silver, the project envisions between ten and twelve teams distributed across the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and potentially Turkey or Greece.
The initiative aims to bring the excitement of the NBA to Europe’s major markets through a professional league connected to, but independent from, the main organization — allowing for a self-contained regular season followed by special interleague tournaments featuring NBA franchises. The new competition — temporarily called NBA Europe — will be backed by a combination of NBA investors and European partners committed to fusing sports entertainment with world-class infrastructure.
Early candidate cities include London, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Munich, while other European capitals are actively seeking a spot in the inaugural edition. The league is also coordinating with FIBA to ensure the new schedule aligns with international competitions and does not disrupt domestic leagues across Europe. Economically, the project represents a long-term vision to strengthen the NBA’s global fan base, create new broadcasting rights, and expand sponsorship opportunities.
With this announcement, the NBA reaffirms its position as the most international sports organization on the planet and sets the foundation for a model that could eventually extend to Asia and Latin America. As Silver explained, it is “a responsible expansion, designed to connect cultures through basketball.” If everything proceeds according to plan, 2027 will mark the beginning of a new era for professional basketball — one in which the NBA becomes not just an American institution, but a truly global brand.
