It's no longer speculation. The NBA has submitted its takeover offer to the EuroLeague, according to reports from Aris Barkas, and the European competition must decide on Tuesday, October 6. The terms of the proposal have not been disclosed.
The Timeline
There are two key dates worth distinguishing. On Monday, October 5, delegations from European clubs will meet at Villa d'Este, on the shores of Lake Como. And it's the following day, Tuesday, October 6, when the decision is expected.
This week, therefore, will be one of internal discussions: the EuroLeague and its thirteen member clubs must discuss the terms of the offer and decide whether to continue operating independently or join forces with the North American league.
What the NBA Wants
According to the latest reports, the U.S. intention would be to purchase the EuroLeague and, on that basis, establish its own competition in Europe.
Its initial objectives included major capitals, whether or not they had a basketball tradition: Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, and Athens on one hand; London, Manchester, and Paris on the other. One of the changes that the current offer would bring is that classic European basketball cities that were not included in those plans, such as Kaunas or Belgrade, would now be part of the package.
There is also an important difference in scale: the NBA would want to start with a league of sixteen teams, well below the twenty-four that the European plan targets.
The Change That Made It Possible
The shift has a name. With Paulius Motiejunas leading the EuroLeague, conversations between both parties were nonexistent. The arrival of Chus Bueno as CEO completely changed the landscape, and since then there has been more talk of a joint path forward than of two top-level leagues coexisting on the continent, a scenario considered practically unviable.
The European Plan B, and What It Means for Spain
Meanwhile, the EuroLeague continues to strengthen its alternative. The goal of converting member clubs into franchises and expanding from thirteen to twenty-one teams is advancing, and with it a competition model of more than twenty teams—likely twenty-four—divided into two conferences, which would take effect as early as next season.
In that scenario, there are two pieces of good news for Spanish basketball. First, the three current permanent clubs—Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Baskonia—would almost certainly be joined by Valencia Basket. Second, the Valencia club is also aiming to host the 2028 Final Four, another matter to be discussed at next week's meeting.