Adam Silver said he recently spoke with Luka Doncic about the new European NBA project and listened to his advice.
Over the years, basketball has grown exponentially worldwide, and some of the NBA's top talents come from Europe.
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International basketball is especially popular in Europe, which has produced superstar players and recent MVPs like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Doncic.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been paying close attention to these European stars, who emphasize that the league should respect the deep traditions of basketball while creating the new European venture.
Silver recently spoke about this initiative, confirming a conversation with Los Angeles Lakers leader Doncic regarding a new project.
The Slovenian began his career with Real Madrid, where he won the EuroLeague title and was named MVP in 2018 before joining the NBA.
"I'd only say I couldn't agree more with Franz [Wagner] and other European NBA players that I've talked to directly about this. Most recently, Luka Doncic and I had a discussion about this league, and I think it's critically important that we respect the traditions of European basketball," Silver said Thursday in Berlin.
"Many of those players are now reaching out to us and giving us advice, many of whom were either developed in the junior programs or, you know, Luka is a perfect example," he added. "He played for Real Madrid and is very familiar with the system here. So, as I said, we're taking advice from wherever it's coming.
"There are also some American players who spent some time playing in Europe before they came into the NBA. So I've received a lot of calls recently from people who say, like, 'Here's my view, here's where I see the opportunity,' etc.
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Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic
MIN: 36.41
PTS: 33.42 (57.64%)
REB: 7.87
As: 8.84
ST: 1.61
BL: 0.55
TO: 4.58
GM: 31
"The competitive level of European basketball is fantastic, and of course, some of our very best NBA players were developed in Europe. The Wagner brothers are great examples. And five of our last seven MVPs are European players," Silver went on to say.
"So, I should also mention our partner in this operation is FIBA, of course, a European-based organization. We're trying to find the best combination of the old and new, the tradition and innovation. And I think, frankly, that's what the NBA brings to the table.
"I think it's also why it's important not only to have FIBA as our partner, but existing basketball organizations who understand the culture of European basketball, understand the traditions, the history, and what makes European basketball unique in so many ways."
The NBA's European expansion should launch in 2027 with 16 teams.
12 of these will be permanent European franchises, while the remaining four spots will rotate annually among teams from FIBA-affiliated domestic leagues, allowing them to compete at the highest level.
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