The NBA may soon significantly expand its presence in Europe, partnering with basketball’s world governing body, Fiba, on a new league that the sides have been discussing for many years.
Specifics are few, with the initial target – for now – a 16-team league. But the announcement made on Thursday by NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Fiba secretary general Andreas Zagklis is a major step forward after a long process.
The league would probably use Fiba rules, such as a 40-minute game instead of the NBA’s 48-minute model, Silver said. But much of the other details – such as the teams and where they would play – will be determined in the months ahead.
“We feel now is the time to move to that next stage,” Silver said, noting that NBA owners offered “enthusiastic support” for such a move.
The NBA and Fiba, the sport’s global governing body, were in discussions for some time about adding either an annual competition in Europe or having an NBA-operated league there. It was a topic at a Board of Governors meeting this past September, one where Zagklis took part.
“Coming out of the most successful World Cup and Olympics ever, we also believe it is the right time to take the next step for club basketball,” Zagklis said.
In January, when the league took advantage of the trip to France to meet with European stakeholders, Silver said he believes the NBA remains “on track” in the process of expanding its footprint in Europe. That was also when he said the league’s governors would be briefed further at the March meeting.
“The response we’ve gotten from the marketplace is very positive,” Silver said.
Zagklis said Fiba’s leadership also unanimously agrees that it’s the right time to partner with the NBA on a new league.
“Our role as a federation is to unite the basketball ecosystem,” Zagklis said.
It is unclear how the new competition would fit into the existing structure of European basketball, which has a number of thriving and well-supported leagues across the continent.
