The NBA sees unused basketball potential in Europe. Plans of an expansion are public.
The NBA is examining the introduction of a new European basketball league with franchises in metropolises and the largest existing clubs in the continent. A spokesman for the AFP news agency confirmed corresponding plans. The Sportico website had reported up to ten teams about a possible NBA Europe.
This league could therefore include four teams from the Euroleague, playing Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin – plus teams that are still to be founded in London or Paris: Licesses could be offered for this.
Basketball with a low market share
The topic is to be deepened this week during a league meeting in New York. A vote is “at any time”, Sportico reported. Any new competition, the NBA assured, will be launched “in partnership” with the World Association Fiba.
There have been rumors about an NBA expansion to Europe for a long time. Managing Director Mark Tatum recently spoke of “unused potential”: “Basketball could continue to grow in Europe,” he said. Despite great popularity, his sport does not have more than one percent market share in Europe.