By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The developing story regarding NBA potentially stretching to Europe in some form, widely labeled as NBA Europe, receives destinations in the form of 11 European cities.
Madrid, Barcelona, Munich, Berlin, Paris, London, Manchester, Milan, Rome, Istanbul, and Athens have been circled by the league based in North America as favorable spots of the Old Continent for expansion, according to Serbian outlet Meridian Sports.
These cities stand out in a tentative list upon combining relative research and discussions on gathered information.
In an approaching meeting, the NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to further discuss the project with the secretary general of FIBA, Andreas Zagklis, in attendance, as noted in Thursday’s report. A potential expansion in Europe is expected to be among the main topics.
“We either reach an agreement or the NBA comes alone. We need to focus on a merger or a partnership,” stressed LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne president, Tony Parker, projecting upcoming additional developments.
With talks between the NBA and Euroleague Basketball confirmed as open, as detailed in a recent report by Eurohoops, traditional European powerhouses, currently competing in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, might indeed be part of plans. However, the exact participation, if any, in NBA Europe remains unclear.
A timeline for an expansion of NBA in the Old Continent remains unclear as well. Considering logistics and obvious restrictions before the 2025-26 season, a revamped or an entirely new competition can be introduced in the European basketball world from the 2026-27 season.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net