EuroLeague basketball clubs have rejected a proposal to partner with North America's NBA following a two-day summit at Lake Como, but the European organization plans to submit a counterproposal.
A majority of EuroLeague shareholder clubs voted against accepting the American league's partnership offer, basketball outlet BasketNews and journalist Donatas Urbonas reported on October 7, 2026.
The long-awaited summit in Lake Como, Italy, held on October 5 and 6, ended without an agreement. The outcome temporarily halted plans for a joint venture between Europe's top basketball competition and the NBA, despite a formal proposal presented by American executives.
EuroLeague is Europe's premier professional basketball competition, operating a league structure where major European clubs hold ownership stakes and governance rights.
Negotiation Concerns and Counterproposal
European club executives were not convinced by the framework presented to them in Italy, according to BasketNews. Club leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the financial consideration offered in exchange for granting the NBA a majority controlling stake in the competition.
Officials also raised doubts regarding the long-term operational strategy proposed by the American league. The initial stance among most European club owners remained far from positive as details of the deal were reviewed.
However, the rejected offer was significantly improved compared to terms submitted during early discussion stages, leaving a window open for continued negotiations.
EuroLeague shareholders are expected to return to the negotiating table in the coming weeks with their own counterproposal, BasketNews reported, citing sources monitoring the discussions.
Postponement of NBA Europe Launch
The delay in reaching an agreement directly impacts the planned launch of NBA Europe, a project aimed at creating a joint European venture. The initial target to launch the competition in the autumn of 2027 will be pushed back to a later date, according to individuals who spoke anonymously to The Athletic.
The NBA is North America's principal professional basketball league, comprising 30 teams across the United States and Canada, and has increasingly sought direct investment and partnership opportunities in European sports markets.
BasketNews is an international sports news portal dedicated to European basketball reporting, while The Athletic is a sports journalism platform operated by The New York Times Company. Lake Como, located in northern Italy, frequently hosts international business summits and executive retreats.
