The National Basketball Association (NBA) is considering launching a new league in Europe, according to recent reports.
This would represent a major expansion of the NBA’s global footprint and could transform the basketball landscape in Europe.
Table of contents:
- Why Europe?
- Potential Formats?
- Opportunities & Challenges
- Next Steps
Why Europe?
Europe has a massive basketball fanbase and strong grassroots participation in the sport.
However, the NBA currently only generates a few hundred million dollars per year in Europe – a relatively small figure compared to the league’s $13 billion total revenue.
An NBA-affiliated league could significantly grow European revenue while also providing more primetime content for European fans.
There are also a record 64 European players in the NBA this season, including global superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokiƈ.
A European league could help develop more elite talent from the region.
Potential Formats
The exact format is still under discussion, but possibilities include:
- A standalone NBA Europe league operated in partnership with FIBA
- An intercontinental competition featuring top teams from Europe and other regions
- Integrating existing leagues more deeply into NBA infrastructure and operations
The NBA already successfully launched the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2021, suggesting the standalone league model could work well in Europe too.
However strategic investors and media partners tailored to each market would likely be vital for any new venture.
Opportunities and Challenges
An NBA-affiliated European league could generate over $3 billion per year eventually, according to projections.
It would mean more primetime games for European fans and massive growth opportunities through broadcasting, sponsorships, merchandising, and live events.
However, a new league would also face major competition from existing basketball properties in Europe – especially the EuroLeague.
EuroLeague has strong brand recognition after over 60 years of operation and would likely resist any incursion into its market from the NBA.
Bridging this rivalry and aligning the interests of different governing bodies like FIBA and EuroLeague would be crucial for any successful launch.
Next Steps
The NBA has hired investment bank Raine Group to evaluate opportunities in Europe.
Conversations are still at an early stage, with many open questions about partners, branding, locations, and more.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum also sits on FIBA’s central board, suggesting the global governing body could be more receptive to plans than the EuroLeague. But negotiations are complex, with some analysts suggesting the NBA may need to commit to long-term investment and be willing to run a European league at a loss for several years.
In any case, an NBA-affiliated property would represent the league’s most ambitious effort yet to tap into surging global basketball fandom.
With stars like Antetokounmpo, Dončić, and Jokiƈ leading the way, the potential audience for a European league has never been greater.
Sources:
zkrainynba.com/nba-news-nowa-europejska-liga-nba-to-mozliwe/
www.sportspromedia.com/news/nba-europe-lague-fiba-euroleague-basketball/
ww.sportico.com/leagues/basketball/2024/nba-europe-new-league-euroleague-1234770112/
