NBA Eyes European Expansion with New League Plans

The NBA is exploring the launch of a new league in Europe, according to Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum, as part of its ongoing globalization efforts.

The NBA is exploring the possibility of launching a new league in Europe, according to Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum. He believes the basketball business in Europe has untapped potential, despite the sport's growing popularity.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently announced that the league is in discussions with FIBA to launch NBA Europe, potentially featuring a 16-team league. This initiative aims to capitalize on the increasing popularity of basketball in Europe and further expand the NBA's global reach.

The NBA has held early-stage talks with potential owners, including Paris St Germain's Qatar Sports Investments, which expressed interest in a basketball franchise in Paris. However, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum noted that current team owners would be prohibited from having individual franchises in Europe under NBA rules. “NBA rules would prohibit current team owners from having individual franchises in Europe,” Tatum said. The potential league is part of the NBA's ongoing effort to globalize, a trend also seen in other North American “Big Four” men's leagues.

The proposed NBA Europe league aims to capitalize on the sport's immense popularity in Europe, where basketball is the second-most popular sport after soccer. The region also boasts a deep talent pool, with around 15% of current NBA players hailing from Europe.

Mark Tatum highlighted the potential for growth, stating, ”There's an opportunity to continue to accelerate the growth of basketball in Europe and to close the gap between the affinity for the game of basketball and the commercial viability of basketball in that market as well.” However, the Euroleague's organizers have expressed concerns, warning that the new league could fragment the sport.

The Euroleague's reaction suggests potential resistance to the NBA's plans, with organizers viewing the proposed league as a threat to the existing basketball structure in Europe. This could lead to tensions between the NBA and European basketball stakeholders.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum emphasized that the goal of the proposed NBA Europe league is not to replace the Euroleague. “Our goal is not to replace the Euroleague. Our goal is to create a commercially viable league that features high-quality, on-court competition and respects the rich tradition of European basketball,” he said. “And we think that that will better serve fans and players on the continent.”

Tatum expressed the NBA's willingness to collaborate with stakeholders, stating, “We've tried for years to bring all of the relevant stakeholders together and we remain open to doing so.” He noted that the Euroleague's lack of permanent teams in major cities like London, Paris, Berlin, and Rome presents an opportunity for the NBA.

Tatum highlighted the need for improved basketball infrastructure in Europe, saying, “The lack of world-class basketball facilities in Europe is striking relative to the affinity there.” He believes a new league would bring investment to the region, addressing the current gap in facilities and servicing millions of underserved basketball fans in large European markets. “There are big markets in Europe that aren't being serviced today, where there are millions of basketball fans that aren't being serviced,” Tatum added.

The NBA has been expanding its global reach, and four years ago, it announced the formation of NBA Africa, which co-organizes the Basketball Africa League with FIBA. According to Mark Tatum, the league has hosted over 100 games in Europe, demonstrating its growing presence on the continent.

The growing global appeal of basketball was evident at the Paris Olympic Games, where dozens of NBA athletes played for teams from Germany to South Sudan. This marks a significant increase from the 1992 Games, which featured only nine international players from the NBA. Today, a joint-record 125 international players from 43 countries are part of NBA teams.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum highlighted the league's growth potential outside the US, saying, “The US accounts for less than 5% of the world's population so by definition, our biggest opportunities for growth are going to exist outside the United States.” This perspective underscores the NBA's focus on international expansion.

“We want to continue to spur the growth of basketball in Europe, in Africa, in Asia, in South America and Latin America and continue to grow the sport here in North America as well.”