By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
For a while now, there have been reports about the NBA potentially creating a new competition in Europe that could rival the EuroLeague.
Spanish outlet Relevo went a step further, reporting that teams like Panathinaikos, Fenerbahce, and Real Madrid have already been contacted about the idea.
However, after the Greek team, Fenerbahce also denied to Eurohoops any contact with the NBA or FIBA about the proposed competition.
All three clubs are shareholders of the EuroLeague and have been among the top European teams for years, even decades. However, both Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce dismissed the notion that they had been courted to join the new competition.
That doesn’t mean the idea doesn’t exist, as FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis talked about the NBA’s interest in becoming more involved in Europe, and that more details will be shared sooner than later.
Relevo also projected that the NBA could launch a new league in Europe as early as the 2026/27 season, with key meetings about its future expected to take place during the NBA Paris games in late January.