Silver: “NBA and FIBA exploring together the possibility of creating a new league in Europe”

27/03/2025 20:19

Zagklis: “We have come to the conclusion that the popularity of the sport is not matched by the fan interest or the commercial aspect"

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis announced at a press conference that the NBA and FIBA are exploring together the possibility of creating a new league in Europe.

“For decades we have been operating in Europe under the NBA brand, with preseason and regular season games like in Paris last January. The last Olympics was an opportunity to meet several important people involved in European basketball, and to propose to them our idea of taking it to the next level with the NBA Brand and our ‘know-how’ in running a professional league.”

Silver revealed that he has received enthusiastic reactions from any party approached, including ‘several European teams.’

“We think there is a significant gap in Europe between the development of the game (5 of the last 6 MVPs are European, as are about 15% of the players) and the kind of interest it generates. Talks between the NBA and FIBA to explore opportunities in Europe have been going on for decades, now we believe the time is right to move into the next phase of the project.
Silver finally revealed that the 30 NBA franchise owners have all responded “with great enthusiasm.”

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