NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said a proposed NBA Europe league would “respect the traditions of European basketball.”
Silver used the occasion of Thursday’s NBA game in Berlin between the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies — the first regular season game to ever take place in Germany — to give an update on the venture.
He said the NBA was continuing to hold discussions with teams about its plans, which would see it partner with FIBA, world basketball’s governing body, to create a 16-team European league. Up to 12 spots would be reserved for permanent members, and at least four would be available to teams that qualify through FIBA’s existing European competition.
“I would just say we continue to be enormously excited about it,” Silver said about the notion of an NBA Europe, adding that discussions with media organizations and sponsors were still ongoing.
The Orlando Magic beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118-111 in the first-ever regular season NBA game held in BerlinAndreas Gora/dpa/picture alliance
However, the NBA’s plans are likely to encounter resistance from the EuroLeague, European basketball’s current top-tier tournament, and European politicians concerned about the threat to the so-called European sports model.
They fear an invite-only league would stifle the development of national leagues in Europe. Such “closed” leagues “benefit only the top percent of the commercially successful clubs,” a European government official told Politico last month.
Asked about the threat of legal action from the EuroLeague, Silver joked that he sends any legal letters to his lawyers.
“I don’t think it’s inevitable that there is a clash,” he said. “I think there is an opportunity here to grow European basketball.”
“We’re trying to find the best combination of old and new, tradition and innovation. And I think, frankly, that’s what the NBA brings to the table.”
Silver said he is ‘enormously excited’ about the prospect of an NBA Europe basketball leagueSoeren Stache/dpa/picture alliance
NBA returns to Germany
The last time the NBA came to Germany, who are the current world and European champions, was for a pre-season game in 2008.
Silver told reporters that basketball was enjoying a “golden era” in Germany and called the capital’s club, Alba Berlin, a “model of the type of club that we would like to see in a potential European league.”
“To me, they are an example of how a top-tier club should be run and organized,” Silver added. “They have tremendous youth programs, they have deep fan support [and] they’ve created enormous enthusiasm around the game.”
As well as Germany, the NBA is reportedly targeting teams in England, France, Spain and Turkey, among others. Silver said the league would be a “mix of existing teams and potentially new teams.”
There were about 14,000 people in the stands for the NBA game in BerlinAndreas Gora/dpa/picture alliance
European talent drain
Europe has long provided a rich pool of talent for NBA teams in North America. This season, about one in six NBA players — more than 70 in total — hail from Europe.
These include Serbia’s Nikola Jokic, a three-time Most Valuable Player, as well as three Germans representing Orlando: the Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, and Tristan da Silva.
Although da Silva called playing in the United States his “dream as a kid,” he suggested young players had a “good incentive” to ply their trade in Europe.
“It’s just a high level of basketball,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday. “There’s a lot of guys from overseas, from America, coming to Europe playing here. So, it’s just getting globalized.”
Basketball is Europe’s No. 2 sport
The appetite for basketball in Europe already exists, according to the NBA, which points to the “untapped” potential of 270 million fans. It says basketball is the continent’s fastest-growing sport and ranks second only to football in popularity. Earlier this week, NBA Europe’s chief suggested that basketball could even “catch up” to football.
However, Silver appeared to lower expectations when DW asked how the NBA would put a dent in European football’s market share.
“We view ourselves as complementary to other sports leagues,” Silver said. “Being the number two sport in Europe, and only faster growing than football because it’s so much larger than we are, that to me speaks to the opportunity that exists to build a viable business around this sport.”
Franz Wagner, who, like his brother, grew up in Berlin and came through the youth system at Alba, said comparisons with football took “the joy out of” basketball.
“I look at the recent developments in Germany and I’m super grateful to be part of it,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “I think it’s amazing the sport is growing so fast.”
Schröder’s era – After Dirk Nowitzki’s run with Germany saw them win bronze at the 2002 Worlds and then narrowly lose the 2005 EuroBasket final, no one expected an even greater generation to follow. Led by Dennis Schröder (above) and Satou Sabally, German basketball is enjoying its most successful spell ever. In both the men’s and women’s game, German basketball is soaring.Oscar J Barroso/DPPI/picture alliance
Germany win 2025 EuroBasket title – Germany staged a fourth-quarter comeback to beat Turkey 88-83 for their second EuroBasket title after 1993. Led by tournament MVP Dennis Schröder, Germany prevailed despite the absence of key players like Moritz Wagner and Isaiah Hartenstein. They were led by assistant coach Alan Ibrahimagic after head coach Alex Mumbru had been hospitalized just before the start of the tournament.Ints Kalnins/REUTERS
Germany reach 2025 EuroBasket final – The German men had already proved their 2023 World Championship victory was no fluke by powering their way to the EuroBasket final. After winning every game in their group, they eased past Portugal, outfought Luka Doncic’s Slovenia, and then overcame a surprise Finland in the semifinal. Inspired by Schröder and Franz Wagner (above), this generation’s eyes were firmly set on another gold medal.Tilo Wiedensohler/camera4+/IMAGO
Germany enjoy best Olympic finish in Paris – Germany were on a high in Paris in 2024 after their World Championship win the year before. They swept through their group and into the semifinals where they faced France. Playing at home and keen to get their revenge after losing to Germany in the group stage, France squeezed past Germany. In the bronze-medal game, Germany couldn’t keep pace with Serbia, and so narrowly missed out on a medal.Christina Pahnke/sampics/picture alliance
Germany’s women on the rise – After never qualifying for an Olympic Games before, Germany’s women booked their ticket and were in Paris in 2024. Inspired by the Sabally sisters, Nyara (left) and Satou, Germany finished second in their group, losing only to the USA. Despite a strong effort in the quarterfinals, they coudn’t get past eventual runners-up France.Tilo Wiedensohler/camera4+/IMAGO IMAGES
Germany’s 3×3 win gold – In one of the most sensational stories of the Paris Olympics, Germany’s women beat Spain to win gold in the 3×3 basketball (played with one backboard and in a half-court setup). For a team that didn’t qualify four years earlier, this was a huge achievement and a sign of further development in the women’s game. Results have been inconsistent since, but this moment of history inspired a generation.Tilo Wiedensohler/camera4+/IMAGO
Germany win 2023 World Championship – Coming off the bronze in the 2022 EuroBasket, Germany were feeling confident. Few expected them to make history though. After sweeping through both group stages, Germany squeezed past Latvia. A two-point upset over the USA in the semifinals put Germany in dreamland, but in the final they went one better and beat Serbia to win it all. Dennis Schröder was MVP as Germany won their first worlds.Jayne Russell/Imago Images
Germany take step on road to success – As one of the hosts of the 2022 EuroBasket, Germany were keen to impress. They finished second in their group and then marched into the semifinals. Here, they lost to eventual winners Spain but they claimed bronze after beating Poland in the third-place game. The performance delivered a real sense of promise about this team as they won their first EuroBasket medal since 2005.Maja Hitij/Getty Images
Edited by: Sean Sinico