As EuroLeague expands and the NBA prepares a 2027 European launch, smaller basketball markets face significant risks. In Italy, historic clubs like Cremona and Trieste may be relocated to Rome to create profitable franchises, sparking concerns over the protection of national leagues and traditional sporting communities.
The landscape of European basketball is clearly poised for significant shifts over the next two years. The EuroLeague has expanded to 20 teams and will likely grow to at least 24 in the near future.
Europe's premier competition has decisively pivoted toward the Middle Eastern market—initially by hosting the Final Four in Abu Dhabi and subsequently by granting a five-year wild card to a Dubai-based franchise.
These moves are also a prelude to the increasingly likely arrival of the NBA in Europe, which is expected to launch a new league, in partnership with FIBA, as early as 2027.
With the arrival of Chus Bueno as the new CEO of EuroLeague, there may still be a chance for an agreement between all parties involved to avoid a head-on collision; however, a definitive resolution remains a distant prospect.
FIBA and the Vision of Inclusive Growth
For years, a primary point of contention between FIBA and the EuroLeague has been national team commitments–an issue often ignored by the EuroLeague, as it does not mandate that clubs release players for international duty during the season.
Furthermore, FIBA has always believed that the EuroLeague prioritizes its own members at the expense of European basketball and national championships, effectively neglecting smaller clubs.
The partnership between FIBA and the NBA, at least on paper, should allow players to participate in both the new competition and their national team games.
Furthermore, the NBA, at least from a media perspective, has repeatedly stated that it wants to make room for smaller markets, providing pathways to qualify for the new league via the Basketball Champions League or domestic championships.
Mark Tatum
Credit AP - Scanpix
Mark Tatum, Adam Silver's deputy, recently noted the NBA's desire to foster "Cinderella stories" where smaller teams upset the status quo. This vision echoes Leicester City's historic 2016 Premier League triumph over giants like Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
The NBA looks to draw inspiration from the Premier League, widely considered the world's most popular football league.
It is no coincidence that the NBA sees the English market as one of the most promising to develop, potentially seeking involvement from existing Premier League owners.
However, this hypothetical inclusion of smaller teams remains more theoretical than practical, especially given the permanent spots reserved for elite clubs in the new NBA competition.
The Italian Context: Rome's NBA Ambitions
In fact, in some countries, such as Italy, there is already concern that historic smaller clubs might be dismantled or absorbed into larger, more commercially viable entities.
It is no secret that the NBA aims to award one of the permanent spots in its new competition to a team based in Rome.
To date, however, none of the teams active in the Italian capital are in the top division of the national league.
All major Roman clubs currently reside in the third division, lacking the financial infrastructure required for an NBA Europe investment.
Several business groups are interested in creating a new Rome-based franchise specifically to compete in the new NBA-backed league.
For this to succeed, the new team must secure a place in the Italian top flight, ideally by the start of next season.
The most direct route would be to purchase an existing team's license and relocate it to Rome.
This is the strategy that the business group led by Donnie Nelson, former GM of the Dallas Mavericks, which also includes Luka Doncic and Rimas Kaukenas, would like to use.
Donnie Nelson
Credit USA Today Sports – Scanpix
The consortium is reportedly eyeing the license of Vanoli Cremona, a top-division side that has faced relocation interest from various investors for several seasons.
Cremona has denied reaching any final agreements while acknowledging interest from multiple groups regarding its sporting title.
Naturally, fans of the Lombardy-based team fear they may lose their club by next season.
Uncertainty in Trieste
The same sentiment is also felt by fans of Pallacanestro Trieste, a historic Italian basketball club owned by an American business group for several years.
The majority owner, Paul Matiasic, is reportedly weighing a move to Rome due to a lack of local financial backing.
A small group of Trieste entrepreneurs who hold 1% of the company's shares has asked Paul Matiasic for clarity regarding the club's future.
In a recent statement, Matiasic said that basketball in Trieste will continue, although it is not yet clear how.
There has been talk of the possible purchase of the sporting rights to a second-division team, but so far, the club's American owners have not revealed much.
Pallacanestro Trieste
Credit FIBA Media
In the meantime, unrest is growing among supporters. As a historic pillar of Italian basketball, Trieste now faces the prospect of a major regression driven by the owner's strategic ambitions.
The local city administration is also very concerned about the situation, and meetings with Matiasic, at least so far, have not been decisive and have not provided the hoped-for answers.
In short, both Cremona and Trieste face great uncertainty about the future, and thousands of fans risk finding themselves without a team at the end of this season.
Protecting the Basketball Ecosystem
The Italian case should make us reflect on some of the critical issues of the NBA Europe project.
The NBA is, of course, interested in the large European markets and wants to build its brand there.
Smaller cities that already struggle within the existing system risk being further cannibalized, leaving communities without their vital sporting anchors.
FIBA, partnering with the NBA on this project, must establish safeguards to protect these established clubs.
The international federation's mandate is to serve the interests of the entire basketball ecosystem, not just lucrative markets.
If FIBA truly cares about the fate of national leagues, it must actively defend them–preventing the relocation or dismantling of historic clubs for the sake of investors seeking more profitable environments.
NBA Europe Just Got A Reality Check…
Orazio Cauchi
Orazio Cauchi started his career in basketball at 21, having worked for several years at Sportando as the lead writer of the website. He also covered several live events, including the Euroleague Final Four, Italian Cups, Serie A league finals, and EuroBasket. He also contributed to American media, such as LibertyBallers and Def Pen Hoops. Cauchi joined BasketNews in 2021 as a Staff Writer. Holds a degree in Politics & International Relations.
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