NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the league is on track to launch NBA Europe in October 2027. Speaking ahead of Game One of the NBA Finals, Silver said final bids for permanent franchises are due by the end of June, with awards expected as early as autumn.
The planned league will feature 16 teams: 12 permanent franchises and four spots available through a qualification process. Silver said the NBA is working closely with FIBA and has seen record interest in the project, which represents the league's most ambitious international expansion.
Roughly 15% of NBA players are now European, including top stars like 22-year-old Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, who is leading the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. Silver said discussions with the existing EuroLeague are ongoing, but made clear the NBA will move forward with or without an integration deal.
According to Sports Business Journal, EuroLeague clubs would need to pay between $500 million and $1 billion for permanent NBA Europe franchises, though those commitments have yet to materialize.
On ownership, Silver said the issue of current NBA players investing in NBA Europe teams remains unresolved. Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is part of an investment group trying to bring a team to Rome. Silver noted the NBA is separately considering expansion in the US, with Las Vegas and Seattle as focus cities.