Andrea Bargnani Backed Potential NBA Europe League
The former first overall draft pick advocated for a new continental league to modernize professional basketball.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Basketball
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Former NBA player Andrea Bargnani has expressed support for the potential establishment of an NBA Europe league. Bargnani, who serves as an executive advisor for the LBA, believes such a move would help modernize the sport by leveraging major metropolitan markets.
Why it matters
Expanding the NBA's footprint into Europe is viewed as a strategic move to attract new investors and grow the global reach of the sport. Bargnani argues that focused development in large city markets is essential for the future success of professional basketball.
Andrea Bargnani recorded 561 total NBA appearances and 38 EuroLeague appearances during his career. He additionally logged 11 total NBA playoff appearances before retiring from professional basketball in 2017.
The players
Andrea Bargnani
He is a former professional basketball player who now serves as an executive advisor for the LBA.
LBA
This is the top-tier professional basketball league in Italy.
BC Roma
This is one of the new franchises currently participating in the LBA.
Maxima Roma
This is a basketball organization based in Rome that recently joined the LBA league.
The details
As the LBA prepares for the 2026-27 UnipolSai Regular Season, the league has undergone a shift with BC Roma and Maxima Roma filling the spots vacated by Germani Brescia and Vanoli Cremona. Bargnani, who made history in 2006 as the first European player selected first overall in the NBA draft, continues to influence the sport through his advisory role.
Timeline
Andrea Bargnani was selected first in the NBA draft in 2006.
Bargnani retired from professional basketball in 2017.
The 2026-27 LBA UnipolSai Regular Season begins this weekend in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
Bargnani's advocacy for a European league mirrors the global growth trend established by his historic entry into the NBA during the 2006 NBA draft. This push for structural change coincides with the expansion of the LBA roster and the increasing integration of international markets.
The entry of BC Roma and Maxima Roma into the LBA changes the competitive field for the upcoming 2026-27 UnipolSai Regular Season. Fans and analysts can track these new organizations as they replace the former teams in the league standings this weekend.
The takeaway
The move to integrate major metropolitan teams like those in Rome reflects a growing effort to professionalize European basketball infrastructure. Readers should watch for how these new league structures influence potential future investments in European professional play.
Further reading
For more professional basketball developments, visit the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Eurohoops.
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