Speculation surrounding Adam Silver’s long-anticipated plan to bring the NBA to Europe gained new momentum this week, following a statement from the new British Basketball League –GBBL-, sent to the ‘Yorkshire Post’. The organization confirmed that it will postpone its launch until 2027 to align with the projected first season of NBA Europe. While the British initiative is not the main focus, the announcement reinforces the notion that the NBA, working closely with FIBA, intends to begin its continental competition in that year, with candidate cities extending far beyond the United Kingdom and including some of Europe’s historic basketball capitals.

The NBA Commissioner has reiterated in recent days that 2027 remains an “ambitious” target for the start of the competition, while stressing that he does not want the project delayed beyond 2028. “We are working on something very complex, but inevitable. We want this league to come to life and to do so in the right way,” Silver stated. He emphasized that the new league must be structured to ensure balance, where all franchises have a realistic chance of competing, rather than becoming a “top-heavy” competition dominated by a small number of teams.

Initial projections point to around 16 franchises, though the final figure is not yet confirmed. Silver acknowledged that, in the early years, existing arenas may be used to facilitate the implementation of the structure and accelerate the project. The NBA has also engaged financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase and Raine Group to evaluate the league’s economic feasibility and medium-term growth prospects.

Economic impact across the continent

The NBA’s arrival in Europe is envisioned as a large-scale operation. Ongoing financial studies highlight the potential for significant growth in revenues from broadcasting rights, sponsorship, merchandising, and sports tourism. For host cities, the presence of franchises would provide a direct economic boost and elevate their international profile within basketball.

Although London and Manchester were specifically mentioned in the British league’s statement, the NBA’s roadmap extends to a much broader range of destinations, with leading EuroLeague clubs expected to be central to the project. Cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Athens, Istanbul, and Munich are among the strongest candidates to host franchises, shaping a map that combines major capitals with regions rich in basketball tradition.

A shift for European talent

The GBBL is scheduled to begin in September 2027, a timeline that aligns with the NBA’s plans for its European league and could ease coordination with international competition windows. Silver has insisted that the aim is to establish a competitive framework compatible with both national leagues and national team commitments, in order to avoid clashes with FIBA schedules.

On the sporting front, the project could reshape the development of European talent. The establishment of elite academies and the addition of new franchises would strengthen pathways for young players, reducing the need to move to the United States, as many currently do through college basketball to prepare for a potential NBA career and as a source of revenue. The success of stars such as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the NBA underlines the continent’s potential, which, under this new structure, would gain a stable platform to compete at the highest level without leaving Europe.

FIBA Europe’s perspective and the role of EuroLeague

The president of FIBA Europe, Jorge Garbajosa, said on Saturday that “some forecasts mention 2027” as the target launch year, adding that, in his view, it would be “a good year.” “It is not easy to create a major competition like the one we want to build. It will take time, but it will happen,” the former player stated on the eve of the EuroBasket final between Turkey and Germany.

Garbajosa stressed that the future NBA Europe would be beneficial “not for FIBA or the NBA, but for the ecosystem of European basketball.” He also referred to the potential involvement of the EuroLeague, though without specifying what role it might play. “The EuroLeague is a great competition, nobody can deny that. There is some distance between their objectives and ours, but communication and personal relationships are strong. We are optimistic about the project and about how it can impact our ecosystem,” he concluded.