Commissioner of the NBA Adam Silver: “We expect the launch of the European league no earlier than two years later”

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is not yet ready to launch the European division, reports ESPN.

Earlier it was reported that the NBA, together with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), is studying the possibility of launching a new European league in the 2026/27 season. It is planned to gather 16 teams in it, and not all of them will be permanent members of the tournament. Thus, the league will be open in the image of a basketball Euroleague.

– I would say that we are not talking about months, but about years before the launch of the project. At least a couple of years are needed. This is a huge undertaking. Among other things, we want to make sure that we are moving in accordance with all interested parties, that is, with the existing league, its teams, European players, media, marketing partners. A lot of work has to be done, ”quotes ESPN as saying the commissioner of the NBA Adam Silver.

According to Silver, the NBA Council will discuss further steps in July at a meeting in Las Vegas.

The European division can be represented- or even launched- during the Olympic Games- 2028 in Los-Ageles, where a basketball tournament with the participation of NBA stars should become one of the brightest components of the program.