NBA Europe Eyes October 2027 Launch
The NBA and FIBA plan a new top-tier European league, while EuroLeague clubs have rejected the NBA's collaboration proposal and voted to expand to 24 teams.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Basketball
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NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum revisited plans to launch a new top-tier league in Europe, working under the title NBA Europe and scheduled to begin play in October 2027. EuroLeague club owners voted to reject the NBA's collaboration proposal and expand their league to 24 teams.
Why it matters
Franchise entry fees are expected to command up to $1 billion, and the league has drawn interest from private equity and wealth funds. Existing European teams are tired of investing tens of millions of dollars a year without appreciation in franchise values, which is shaping the competing EuroLeague expansion.
NBA Europe would seat 12 permanent franchises plus four open slots for qualifying teams, with entry fees projected at up to $1 billion. EuroLeague plans to grant permanent licenses to six new franchises as it moves toward 24 teams, but the final structure of both competing leagues remains unsettled.
The players
Mark Tatum
Mark Tatum is the NBA deputy commissioner who revisited the league's plans for a new European competition.
NBA
The National Basketball Association is the North American professional men's basketball league leading the NBA Europe initiative.
FIBA
The International Basketball Federation is the global governing body for basketball and a partner in the planned European league.
EuroLeague Basketball
EuroLeague Basketball is Europe's top-tier club competition, whose owners rejected the NBA's collaboration proposal.
The details
FIBA's Basketball Champions League would become the second-tier league beneath NBA Europe, while EuroLeague proposed permanent licenses for Paris, Dubai, Valencia, Maxima Roma, Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv, and PAOK. Partizan Mozzart Bet, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet, Virtus Costa Bologna, and Napoli are expected to receive three-year licenses.
Timeline
• Tuesday: Tatum spoke at Sportico's Invest New York conference.
• End of calendar year 2026: Hoped-for decision on North American expansion.
• October 2027: NBA Europe scheduled to begin play.
Season Trajectory
The NBA's push into Europe is a direct challenge to EuroLeague's long-established status as the continent's premier club competition. The outcome will determine whether European basketball consolidates around one structure or splits into rival top-tier leagues.
If NBA Europe launches on schedule, European clubs without league-funded franchise value growth will face a choice between joining a new structure and staying in EuroLeague's expanded field of 24 teams. Fans in the target markets could see new top-tier competition arrive for the 2027 season.
The takeaway
The competing plans show that European basketball's ownership structure is now the central question, with franchise value and investment returns driving every decision. Watch the year-end North American expansion decision for signals on which model prevails.
What happens next
A decision on North American expansion, including possible Las Vegas and Seattle franchises, is hoped for by the end of the calendar year 2026, and NBA Europe is scheduled to begin play in October 2027.
Further reading
For more on the sport, see the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Eurohoops.
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