NBA’s new European league will feature 16 teams with potential Oct. 2027 launch

The New York Times ^ | Nov. 7, 2025 | Joe Vardon

[MinorityRepublican]

The NBA is formally targeting an October 2027 launch date for its new European League and its list of preferred team cities in the new venture include London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Berlin, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, and Istanbul.

Speaking at a Football Business Forum in Milan hosted by Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday, George Aivazoglou, managing director for the NBA’s European and Middle East offices, cited those cities as well as Manchester (U.K.) and Lyon (France) as targeted locations for permanent members of commissioner Adam Silver’s league, which Aivazoglou said is headed toward a tip off in about 23 months, though October 2027 is not yet finalized.

Aivazoglou also said the new league — we’ll see if it is going to be called NBA Europe — would be a 16-team league with the last four teams competing via play-in, either through FIBA’s Champions League or a domestic league.

And finally, Aivazoglou suggested the NBA’s European teams would likely play against the big boys, the NBA, in a tournament. (This arrangement would need to be negotiated with the NBA Players Association, either in a new CBA or as an amendment to the existing one).

“It would be a new competition bringing together NBA and NBA Europe teams — down the line, an NBA Cup format with American and European teams, or a tournament like last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup — as part of an increasingly integrated framework,” Aivazoglou said at the conference, according to the audio of his remarks obtained by The Athletic.

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TOPICS: Sports
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[butlerweave]

but muslims don’t allow entertainment

[allendale]

Great employment opportunity for many.

[I-ambush]

How does one say, “Ow, my ankle!” in French?

[alternatives?]

Pro basketball isn’t a very good circus.

[whitney69]

“Pro basketball isn’t a very good circus.”

I am amazed the NBA has never learned anything about capitalism. One of the biggest mistakes many companies make now that causes them to end up streamlining their business and in many cases lose money is to compete with itself. Most of the time the internet sales are to blame. With a limited amount of TV contracts that could come into play, starting a league in Europe running at the exact time as their senior league in the US is performing is suicide. It’s not adding to profit, it’s deluting the talent and over filling the cup available for solvency. Not real bright.

wy69

[CondoleezzaProtege]

The NFL seems eager to go more international too…albeit American football is a lot less mainstream than basketball in terms of hobby/participation worldwide. But they are trying to globalize the fanbase. The only game I watched this hear was between the Chiefs and Chargers in Brazil.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

year*

[Fireone]

” it’s deluting the talent “
I seriously doubt this will dilute the talent base. There’s plenty of unintelligent, unemployable, tall guys to fill the bill.
Outside of gambling, and TV money, the NBA wouldn’t exist, and they need a broader base to support the never ending salary demands of their DEI Lamprey, the WNBA.

[MinorityRepublican]

But they are trying to globalize the fanbase.

And the quality is not what it used to be.

[2Dreamin]

You can bet on it too.

[RacerX1128]

The NBA is finished for me. Here’s an NBA game today.
3 pt shot
3 pt shot
3 pt shot
Foul
Foul
Foul
3 pt shot.
Foul

[MinorityRepublican]

You can say the same about the MLB.

TTO.

Strikeout.

Walk

Home run.

[dfwgator]

I must admit I prefer watching EuroLeague games than NBA games. The atmosphere is nuts.

[MinorityRepublican]

I must admit I prefer watching EuroLeague games than NBA games. The atmosphere is nuts.

NBA Europe will fail.

[dfwgator]

Yep, NBA Europe will be corporatized, like everything else.

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

You are describing the Boston Celtics. Watch the historically great OKC Thunder. They are FUN. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander slithers to the basket and focuses on mid-range shots. Historically strong defense with loads of steals and forced turnovers and deflections. Cason Wallace leads everyone in steals. They won their first 5 games with the second lowest 3 shooting percentage and several of the core players injured.