NBA’s new European league will feature 16 teams with potential Oct. 2027 launch
The New York Times | Nov. 7, 2025 | Joe VardonThe NBA is formally targeting an October 2027 launch date for its new European League and its list of preferred team cities in the new venture include London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Berlin, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, and Istanbul.
Speaking at a Football Business Forum in Milan hosted by Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday, George Aivazoglou, managing director for the NBA’s European and Middle East offices, cited those cities as well as Manchester (U.K.) and Lyon (France) as targeted locations for permanent members of commissioner Adam Silver’s league, which Aivazoglou said is headed toward a tip off in about 23 months, though October 2027 is not yet finalized.
Aivazoglou also said the new league — we’ll see if it is going to be called NBA Europe — would be a 16-team league with the last four teams competing via play-in, either through FIBA’s Champions League or a domestic league.
And finally, Aivazoglou suggested the NBA’s European teams would likely play against the big boys, the NBA, in a tournament. (This arrangement would need to be negotiated with the NBA Players Association, either in a new CBA or as an amendment to the existing one).
“It would be a new competition bringing together NBA and NBA Europe teams — down the line, an NBA Cup format with American and European teams, or a tournament like last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup — as part of an increasingly integrated framework,” Aivazoglou said at the conference, according to the audio of his remarks obtained by The Athletic.
Helping all the American Libs who threatened to leave take a piece of their homeland with them.
No Jews!
Wait…that’s the same as US NBA.
No, wait again…US NBA has 4 Jewish players. Who knew?
The pregame festivities will prominently showcase the Adhan…
League commissioner descended from some swishy inbred monarch.
So…The Gay League?
The rules will constantly change due to reliance upon the EU for oversight…
The fact that showers don’t need to be installed will save on overhead costs.
Germany glances over, quickly looks away.
Finally, a league the WNBA can beat.
“From Michael Jordan to the Sea . . . oh, wrong continent.”
… the “N” will stand for something different; we haven’t decided what it’ll be, yet.
Interesting features of a European NBA…
The historically significant team names: London Bobbies
Paris Surrender Monkeys
Rome Gladiators
Milan Mezosopranos
Berlin Walljumpers
Munich Brewmeisters
Barcelona Bulls
Madrid Matadors
Athens Olympians
Istanbul Turkeys
8 and 10 feet tall ball boys with the Chernobyl squad will keep the action moving when C. H. U. D. players get balls stuck in their tentacles.
“Double Chindribble!”
If European Basketball fans turn out to be anything like European Soccer fans, the post game events will be more interesting than the games…