NBA Europe league targets Istanbul as a cornerstone club market

NBA Europe and Middle East Executive Director George Aivazoglou said the joint NBA‑FIBA project is advancing toward a launch in October 2027. He highlighted strong progress across offices in London, Madrid and New York and said interest from potential clubs, investors and partners is "very high".

Aivazoglou emphasized that Turkey – and especially Istanbul – has shown "extremely high" interest, describing the city as a first‑class global hub with a passionate fan base. He believes Istanbul could become one of the league’s foundational teams.

The venture aims to attract billions of dollars in investment, with banking partners JP Morgan and The Raine Group involved. The financial model plans to channel about 90 % of league revenue to clubs during the first ten years, including guaranteed multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar participation payments.

Aivazoglou concluded that the league will be built by Europeans, for European fans, and will seek long‑term partners capable of shaping the sport for the next century.