Unicaja Touted as Model for FIBA's NBA Europe Competition

FIBA secretary‑general Andreas Zagklis named Spanish club Unicaja as a benchmark for merit‑based entry into the planned NBA Europe league. The new competition, slated to launch in the 2027‑28 season, will field 16 teams, with twelve permanent slots and a champion’s entry via the Basketball Champions League. NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said negotiations with FIBA are in the final stage and that the format will benefit clubs and players, with final offers expected soon.

Unicaja, which left the EuroCup for the Basketball Champions League in 2021, has since won four titles in two seasons and emerged as a reference point after La Laguna Tenerife’s departure from the tournament. The club continues to monitor the evolving European basketball landscape as the NBA Europe project progresses.