Because the NBA continues to develop its presence abroad, commissioner Adam Silver outlined a daring imaginative and prescient for the longer term that might see groups from different continents taking part in United States-based franchises within the common season or postseason. Along with its grassroots efforts in Europe and Africa and its NBA International Video games collection, the NBA is within the means of launching a brand new league in Europe that might start play in 2027 or 2028. And it might not be lengthy earlier than worldwide play pits European squads towards current American groups.
Silver envisions tinkering with the NBA Cup or maybe the NBA playoffs to start introducing worldwide groups into the league’s schedule. From there, regular-season play throughout borders may very well be a possible subsequent step.
“We now have one thing we name the NBA Cup, a midseason event,” Silver mentioned on the Bloomberg Philanthropies International Discussion board. “You may think about groups from Europe, doubtlessly Africa, competing in that event. You probably might see groups coming into our playoffs, high seeds from different leagues.”
The European league might pull current profitable golf equipment to construct its membership. Silver this summer time reportedly met with Actual Madrid about doubtlessly becoming a member of the league, and the curiosity could also be mutual given the membership’s foray into American sports activities with its settlement to host an NFL recreation this season.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver meets with Actual Madrid about potential European league membership, per report
Austin Nivison
Basketball’s fast development in Europe and the huge inflow of European expertise into the NBA lately point out the potential for the proposed league to search out immense success.
“Over time, definitely in Europe, as airplane journey will get sooner … once I consider the flight from New York to L.A. for instance, there is no motive if we had 14 groups in Europe you could not journey, play the Knicks or Nets, journey to London, play three, 4 occasions in Europe, come again dwelling,” Silver mentioned. “I feel it is very doable in our league.”
Crossing worldwide borders for regular-season play isn’t a novel concept for the NBA on condition that the NBA International Video games collection has despatched groups to Japan, Mexico, England and France for many years. Germany is about to affix the combo this season when it hosts the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic on Jan. 15, 2026. However the concept of taking part in significant video games towards groups from these international locations and past is model new.
The push towards worldwide play is an emphasis for Silver, who earlier this 12 months mentioned the NBA has its sights set on a brand new All-Star Recreation format that includes a extra nationalistic aptitude considerably akin to what the NHL debuted final 12 months with the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“I do not assume a straight-up USA vs. World is sensible, however in fact that is not what they did within the NHL both,” Silver mentioned this summer time. “I feel there’d most likely be some totally different groups we type, however, whether or not it is some regional foundation for the way we mix sure teams of gamers — as a result of USA gamers, I talked about [this] earlier, that worldwide is 30% of the league, American gamers are nonetheless 70% of the league. So I feel we are able to play off that nationalism.”
