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oct 08 2026The NBA and FIBA have responded to EuroLeague's rejection with a brief, measured joint statement containing two very clear messages. First, the door remains open. Second, they won't wait.
"An alliance between the EuroLeague, FIBA and the NBA to unify the European basketball ecosystem would unlock the enormous potential of this sport across Europe for the benefit of clubs, players and, most importantly, fans," the statement begins, released Thursday. It continues: "The NBA and FIBA remain committed to moving forward with a new professional men's basketball league in Europe and helping build a stronger and more sustainable basketball ecosystem alongside partners who share our vision of growth, opportunity and the fundamental principles of European sport."
What It Says Between the Lines
The statement comes two days after EuroLeague's shareholder meeting at Lake Como, where clubs rejected the NBA's conditions. According to Eurohoops, some didn't even consider it a sufficient basis for negotiation. And every phrase in the text carries meaning.
The first is an olive branch. The NBA and FIBA continue to speak of a "three-way" alliance, which aligns with what BasketNews reported: EuroLeague is preparing a counter-offer for the coming weeks and negotiations are not dead.
The second is a warning. "Moving forward" with the new league "alongside partners who share our vision" is an elegant way of saying that if EuroLeague clubs don't get on board, they'll look elsewhere. And the reference to the "fundamental principles of European sport" is no accident. It's the idea of an open system, with access based on sporting merit, which FIBA has been defending for months against EuroLeague's permanent franchise model.
Two Projects in Motion
Currently, Europe has two plans on the table. EuroLeague wants to expand to 24 teams in 2027-28, with its 13 shareholders as permanent franchises. The NBA and FIBA are working on a 16-team league for the same season: 12 permanent franchises and four open spots, linked to the Basketball Champions League and national leagues.
If no agreement is reached, BasketNews suggests NBA Europe's launch could be delayed to 2028. The comparison most often repeated these days is to the year 2000, when a split between FIBA and EuroLeague divided European basketball into two competitions (EuroLeague and SuproLeague) for one season.
What's Next
The ball is now in EuroLeague's court. The NBA, meanwhile, expects to announce the first cities to have franchises in its European league in the coming weeks. Those two moves will tell whether Europe is heading toward one major competition or a league war.
