Adam Silver delivered an update on the progression of NBA Europe, as more bidders, and one NBA star, having already made moves to position themselves as future franchise owners
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has revealed the league is looking to award franchises for NBA Europe in the Fall of this year ahead of an October 2027 launch.
Silver stated that the end of June will be the deadline for prospective investors to place their bids before the league determines which bids are the most suitable towards the latter end of 2026.
“Final bids from franchises are due at the end of this month, at the end of the month in June,” said Silver during a press conference in San Antonio for the NBA Finals.
“We’ve seen record interest and we’re very excited about the ongoing opportunity and working closely with FIBA (International Basketball Association), our federation.”
“Presumably, we will be in position in the fall to award franchises.”
NBA Europe bidders lodged more than 120 bids last March when the league met with prospective investors in March. Bidders range from high-net-worth individuals to capital management firms, to existing European basketball teams and football clubs.
RedBird Capital, owner of AC Milan and minority owner of Liverpool F.C., have been discussing with the league over a potential deal to secure an NBA Europe franchise.
Most recently, former Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy also has reported interest in buying a London-based team as part of a consortium.
Alongside London, the other European cities earmarked for an NBA Europe team includes Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, Istanbul, and Athens.
Some of these cities will be the 12 permanent franchises as part of the inaugural NBA Europe season. The league is being proposed as a closed league for the 12 permanent members, with four teams able to be relegated, and four teams promoted, each season.
Sources close to the matter told Insider Sport that in future years, once NBA Europe is operational, permanent franchises will be able to benefit from expansion proceeds, with valuation proceeds being diluted rateably.
The NBA plans to invest more than $3bn in support of the European league in a bid to reduce early-stage risks and build a path for future profitability.
“We are very much on schedule,” added Silver. “It is our hope and anticipation that that league will launch in the ’27-28 season in Europe. We are on track.”
Luka Dončić is in on NBA Europe
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić could become an owner of an NBA Europe franchise as he is part of a consortium that has acquired Italian basketball team Venoli Cremona.
Dončić, alongside investors Valerio Bianchini, Rimantas Kaukėnas and former NBA Coach Donnie Nelson, intends to relocate the team to Rome after announcing it has submitted a bid to the league to become an NBA Europe franchise.
“I have dreamed about owning a team in Europe for a long time, to finally have this happen is amazing,” said Dončić.
“Vanoli has a great history, and we are ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have an amazing group of partners, and I really believe we can do something special for basketball in Italy and Europe.”
Vanoli Cremona currently play in Lega Basket Serie A, the top-flight Italian basketball league and will play in Rome for the 2026/27 season. The team has never played in EuroLeague, Europe’s most prestigious basketball league.
Dončić came through the EuroLeague and became the youngest-ever EuroLeague MVP in 2018 before he was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The 27-year-old Slovenian is one of many European players to be regarded as one of the best in the league with six All-NBAs, six All-Star appearances and an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
He, alongside Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama are considered to be some of the best in the NBA and a factor into the NBA’s decision to pursue a European league due to the increase in popularity and participation.
