NBA Commissioner Adam Silver pushes European league plan during FIFA World Cup in New York

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he will use the presence of European city representatives in New York for the FIFA World Cup final to advance talks on a new NBA Europe league. He and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum plan to hold several meetings with city officials and expect to close some agreements in the coming weeks, with formal site announcements to follow.

The league aims to launch in October 2027 with 16 teams – 12 permanent franchises and four spots decided through qualification. Interest has been expressed by traditional basketball markets such as Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Athens and Turkey, as well as non‑traditional locations like London and Manchester. The NBA, working with FIBA, hopes to start the competition before the 2028 Olympic Games.