Giorgos Aivazoglou has outlined the structure envisioned for NBA Europe, the new continental project being developed with FIBA. The league is expected to launch in 2027-28 with 16 teams: 12 permanent franchises and four spots available through qualification pathways.
“Our vision is to create a two-tier ecosystem pan-European at the top,” the NBA’s senior vice president and managing director for Europe and the Middle East said. “NBA Europe, a semi-open league, and then as a second competition the BCL, which will be fully open.” The four non-permanent spots are expected to go to Basketball Champions League finalists and winners of qualification tournaments linked to domestic leagues.
Aivazoglou also pointed to the fragmentation of European basketball, noting that the wider European sports industry generates around $50 billion annually while basketball captures less than 0.5%. On EuroLeague talks, he remained optimistic: “Over the next few weeks we will be able to drive something very, very meaningful for European basketball together.”
“We want to keep it traditional and authentic and keep the soul as it is, but bring in entertainment elements that allow different segments, different audiences to come in,” he concluded.
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