This article is from a press release by FIBA and the NBA

The NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced today that they will move forward in January with the next phase of their joint exploration into creating a new professional men’s basketball league in Europe, signaling a significant step toward reshaping the continent’s basketball landscape.

According to the announcement, the NBA and FIBA will begin formally engaging prospective teams and ownership groups interested in joining the proposed pan-European league. The initiative is envisioned as a collaborative project that blends the NBA’s global reach with FIBA’s deep-rooted presence in European basketball, while respecting the continent’s long-standing club and domestic league structures.

A key pillar of the proposed league is its merit-based access model. In addition to permanent franchise spots, every team competing in a FIBA-affiliated domestic league would have an annual pathway to qualify, either through the Basketball Champions League (BCL) or an end-of-season qualifying tournament. That approach aligns with traditional European sports principles, where promotion is earned on the court rather than secured exclusively through closed memberships.

The league is also expected to align its calendar with existing domestic league and national team schedules. This would allow players to continue representing both their clubs and their national teams year-round—an issue that has long been a point of tension in international basketball. By avoiding scheduling conflicts, the NBA and FIBA aim to create a structure that complements, rather than disrupts, the broader European basketball ecosystem.

Beyond competition, the NBA and FIBA plan to commit financial support and resources toward grassroots and long-term development across Europe. That includes investment in domestic leagues, club academies, and existing NBA and FIBA programs designed to develop players, coaches, and referees at all levels of the game. The goal, according to both organizations, is to create a sustainable ecosystem that benefits not just elite clubs, but the sport’s full development pipeline.

“Advancing further this joint NBA-FIBA project is great news for the European basketball community,” FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. “The format of the league respects European sport model principles by offering any ambitious club in the continent a fair pathway to the top. The project is conceived in a way that will improve the sustainability of the entire European basketball ecosystem.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver echoed that sentiment, citing strong interest from stakeholders across Europe. “Our conversations with various stakeholders in Europe have reinforced our belief that an enormous opportunity exists around the creation of a new league on the continent,” Silver said. “Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe.”

The NBA and FIBA said additional details and updates will be shared in the coming months as discussions with clubs and investors progress, but the announcement alone marks one of the most ambitious efforts yet to unify and elevate professional basketball across Europe.