The NBA-EuroLeague alliance is back at the center of debate over European basketball's future. The NBA and EuroLeague have resumed talks in recent weeks to explore a possible collaboration that could transform the structure of competitions across the continent in the medium term.
Over the past year, there has been discussion of a project driven by the NBA alongside FIBA to create a new European league with a launch horizon around 2027. In that initial scenario, the EuroLeague appeared to be sidelined from the plan. However, the reactivation of dialogue between both organizations now opens the door to a joint solution that avoids the coexistence of parallel projects in Europe.
One of the elements that has favored this rapprochement is the arrival of Chus Bueno to the executive leadership of the continental competition. The Spanish executive worked for years within the NBA's international structure, which facilitates a climate of direct dialogue between both parties. Even the commissioner of the North American league, Adam Silver, has made clear recently that collaboration with the EuroLeague would be a positive scenario for the global development of European basketball.
Beyond the political will for dialogue, the debate also focuses on how a joint competition could be structured. The EuroLeague is studying progressively expanding its number of participants—currently 20 teams—while the initial model linked to the NBA's project contemplated a smaller league with permanent spots and others obtained through sporting qualification. Finding a format that balances number of games, international calendar, and national team windows will be one of the major challenges of any agreement.
The economic factor also plays a determining role in these conversations. Recent reports place the total value of the EuroLeague and its clubs at several billion euros, while the NBA's European project aims to mobilize major investments through new franchises and strategic partners. In that context, different formulas for business cooperation between both structures are being studied.
The cities that could be part of a common project are another key point. Some of the great capitals of continental basketball—such as Madrid, Barcelona, Istanbul, or Athens—already form part of the current EuroLeague ecosystem, while other important markets like London or Rome remain attractive targets for possible expansion.
For now there is no closed agreement, but the simple fact that the NBA and EuroLeague are negotiating again marks a significant shift compared to the previous months. The upcoming meetings between the different parties involved could offer new clues about whether this NBA-EuroLeague alliance ends up becoming a reality that redefines the map of European basketball.