By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
There were no big announcements, or even a concrete plan to present but the message of Adam Silver from Paris was clear: The NBA is coming to Europe one way or another.
On his press conference in the French capital, Silver was quite clear on the NBA’s intentions: “What we are discussing, a competition, rather a league independent of the NBA. It would be a European league. In what form? We will see. We are talking with various parties to understand what opportunity there could be”.
As Silver explained: “We can contribute to the growth of the game, which is not without interest. The same as in Africa with an independent league, or in partnership with existing leagues, or FIBA? We are moving slowly because we want to be sure that what we do will be accepted by the existing basketball ecosystem. We want to have direct conversations with the stakeholders this week. We want to respect the traditions of European sport, whatever we do”.
This project will not be an NBA expansion as Silver said: “We could have franchises but that’s not the priority. That’s not what we’re discussing at the moment. We would need supersonic planes”.
“A week in Europe in several cities”
Silver also clarified that Paris has not locked an NBA game for 2026, since there’s interest from other European cities too to host NBA games.
“It’s not clear at this time if we will return to Paris”, said Silver and explained his position: “We will definitely return to Europe. It’s hard to schedule regular season games outside the United States and there are many candidates to host them. We are determining that right now”.
So the NBA may end visiting several European countries, according to the commissioner: “Interest in basketball is growing in Europe and we aim to be international. A week in Europe, in several cities? We can think about it. I like the idea of taking a break in the United States and playing elsewhere in the world”.
Silver also praised Victor Wembanyama, a generational talent and the face of Paris games: “What impresses me? His professionalism. It motivates you to be great. The finesse he brings, I love watching him play. I don’t know if his coaches want him to shoot three-pointers as much as that (laughs). His defense. Victor is curious, he wants to know everything about the world, has african roots, he’s in Texas and learning this culture. He’s a unique person because of his size who excels in basketball but is connected by his various interests. I love working with him, talking to him, he makes our job easier”.