NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed that the new European basketball league would feature 16 teams, including 12 permanent franchises.
The NBA's plans in Europe are becoming increasingly clear as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis held a Board of Governors press conference discussing the potential creation of a new basketball league in Europe.
However, many questions remain unanswered, such as how the league would operate and which teams would be involved.
During the press conference, Adam Silver revealed that they are considering a 16-team format, consisting of 12 permanent teams and four additional teams that would compete on a yearly basis.
"The initial thought is that we would have a 16-team league, potentially. This is still very preliminary," Silver said.
"Maybe 12 permanent clubs and four that would compete on a yearly basis. But that's very much subject to change, and it's something we're just beginning to explore."
Regarding the inclusion of existing clubs, Silver emphasized that discussions are ongoing.
"As for the composition of existing clubs, that's still an open discussion," he said. "We want to better assess the level of interest from current clubs. In some cases, these clubs are already huge global brands—many built through soccer rather than basketball—but we recognize the deep connection fans have with them, which is very relevant."
He also mentioned the possibility of new ownership groups entering the league.
"In virtually every major European city, there are basketball ecosystems," Silver explained. "The question is whether other potential owners—given the opportunity—would step forward and express interest in owning a club in that market. That’s something we want to explore as well."
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