NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed on June 3 that the NBA Europe league remains on schedule to launch in October 2027 for the 2027-28 season. The league will include 16 teams: 12 permanent franchises and 4 qualification spots for other European clubs [1, 2, 3]. "We are very much on schedule. It is our hope and anticipation that the league will launch in the ’27-28 season in Europe. We are on track," Silver said [1].
Final bids for permanent NBA Europe franchises are due by the end of June 2026, with awards expected by autumn 2026 [1, 4, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Target cities for franchises include Paris, Lyon, London, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Manchester, Munich, Athens, and Istanbul. Some major football clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, and AC Milan have been approached to partner in forming NBA Europe teams [4, 5, 6].
The new league will enter a market currently served by the EuroLeague, home to leading clubs Olympiacos, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce, and Barcelona. Silver said discussions with EuroLeague leaders are ongoing, adding, "It’s our hope that we can find a way to integrate these operations with the EuroLeague, but we will move forward either way" [1, 4, 2, 5, 8, 3].
Sports Business Journal reports that acquisition costs for permanent franchises are expected to range from $500 million to $1 billion [1, 2, 8]. About 15% of current NBA players are European, including star Victor Wembanyama, who is set to lead the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals [1, 2, 8]. NBA player Luka Doncic is part of a group trying to bring a franchise to Rome, though current NBA rules prohibit active players from owning teams. Silver noted the issue "has not been resolved yet" and will be discussed with the players’ association [1, 4, 2, 5, 8].
The NBA is also considering expansion within the U.S. in Seattle and Las Vegas, with a Board decision expected by the end of 2026 [4, 5, 8, 3].
Silver has also addressed concerns about tanking in the NBA, implementing a 3-2-1 lottery system to incentivize winning [3]. Meanwhile, the NBA Clippers’ salary cap violation investigation related to a $28 million endorsement deal linked to Kawhi Leonard is nearing completion [8].
