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mar 07 2026The NBA's expansion project in Europe continues to advance, with key details emerging about participating cities. Italy will be represented by two teams in the new competition being developed by the NBA in collaboration with FIBA.
The confirmation came from Gianni Petrucci, president of the Italian Basketball Federation, who explained that the agreement between the NBA and FIBA is already finalized and could be officially announced by late March. The statements were made on Giornale Radio Rai, where the Italian official revealed that Rome and Milan will be the cities representing the country in the project.
Petrucci noted that the understanding between both organizations was recently confirmed by Jorge Garbajosa, president of FIBA Europe, during a visit to Turin. According to the official, the agreement will be formalized soon and will represent an important boost for the development of European basketball.
The Italian federation president also explained that the clubs involved will maintain their presence in the Italian league, combining their domestic participation with the new competition driven by the NBA. Additionally, they will continue operating in the local transfer market and making their players available to the country's competitive system.
In parallel, the project has attracted the interest of major investment groups linked to Italian football. Petrucci noted that owners connected to entities such as AC Milan or Inter Milan have shown curiosity about participating in the initiative. In Milan's case, there has even been speculation about possible interest from Gerry Cardinale in acquiring Olimpia Milano, while Inter has also reportedly explored options within the new scenario.
Although details still need to be finalized, the confirmation of Rome and Milan represents one of the first visible steps of a competition that the NBA is considering launching in Europe around 2027, in collaboration with FIBA and with the goal of opening a new chapter in continental basketball.
