There is a new basketball league forming primarily based in Europe, and it is one thing that NBA commissioner Adam Silver apparently has a fairly eager eye on.
In line with the Related Press, via ESPN, this league will characteristic a partnership between the NBA and FIBA (Fédération Internationale de Basketball). FIBA is the game of basketball worldwide governing physique.
Silver was at an occasion hosted by “Entrance Workplace Sports activities” on Wednesday, and he mentioned the timeline of this league changing into a actuality.
It seems like 2027 could also be too quickly, however Silver clearly would not need to wait too lengthy.
“I do not assume I might need to go for much longer than ’28,” Silver stated. “The chance is now to do one thing like this.”
NBA and FIBA eying begin of recent European basketball league
Plans for this league got here out within the spring.
“At this week’s NBA Board of Governors assembly, the league will report on its exploration of a brand new males’s basketball league in Europe, in partnership with FIBA,” a league spokesperson said in a statement in March.
This is not simply bluster, both. The NBA has partnered with JPMorgan Chase and Raine Group for monetary technique, and Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum have been having conversations all throughout Europe with politicians, groups, media corporations, traders and stakeholders.
“I might say I am smitten by it,” Silver stated.
The NBA has been making an attempt to construct a worldwide model for some time now, so having its hooks in an official league in partnership with FIBA simply is sensible.
It seems that this league will characteristic 16 groups, which is a plan that might change. It additionally sounds just like the NBA goes to need to associate with present soccer golf equipment like Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis, amongst others, to make this dream a actuality.
“Basketball’s most likely the fastest-growing sport on this planet proper now, and it is an enormous No. 2 sport in Europe behind soccer, so I feel there’s an actual alternative,” Silver stated.
