NBA in Talks with Top European Football Clubs to Launch New Basketball League in Europe
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is in early-stage discussions with some of Europe’s leading football clubs to back a new basketball league on the continent, marking a potential major international expansion effort for the U.S. sports giant.
At this week’s NBA Board of Governors meeting, the league revealed that it is exploring the creation of a new men’s basketball league in Europe, in partnership with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the global governing body for basketball.
European Football Clubs Explore Basketball Investments
According to reports, the NBA has initiated talks with prominent football club owners, including those of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Manchester City, as well as potential investors for a London-based team. These discussions focus on possible investments and venue options for the planned European basketball league, as reported by Bloomberg News.
A spokesperson for Qatar Sports Investments, the company behind PSG, confirmed that they have been approached about a basketball franchise in Paris, expressing their interest in the venture.
Potential for Eight New European Basketball Teams
NBA owners are reviewing plans to launch approximately eight new franchises across Europe, with an estimated initial investment of $500 million per team, Bloomberg added. The initiative is seen as a way to further expand the NBA’s global reach and offer a professional basketball league in Europe that aligns with the league’s international growth strategy.
Competing Leagues in the Future?
In addition to the NBA’s efforts, a separate group of investors is looking to create a basketball league that spans both Asia and Europe, potentially rivaling the NBA in the future. This initiative reportedly includes Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund as a strategic partner, with UBS serving as an advisor, according to a Financial Times report from February.
