Adam Silver is serious: Here’s when the NBA Europe project will launch

The’ambitious NBA Europe project is taking more and more shape. As we await the start of the new NBA regular season, NBA commissioner Adam Silevr took stock of the status of work regarding the new “European” league.

“Basketball is probably the fastest growing sport in the world right now. It is now in second place behind only soccer, and so I think there is a real possibility that we can create something that will be successful” his words at the Front Sports Office’event referring just to the NBA Europe project.

Adam Silver also opened up about the timing of the project: “The prospect of a launch of the new league in 2027 is undoubtedly ambitious, bearing in mind the open issues still to be addressed and resolved, but we cannot rule out that date. However, we do not want to go beyond 2028”, his closing remark.

As is well known, the initiative, jointly developed by the NBA and FIBA, aims to create a new league of 16 franchises (some brand new). Reactions from major European clubs have been mixed. While Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce have pledged allegiance to the’Euroleague, considering it still the top of continental basketball, teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid have not been outspoken, partly in view of the fact that their 10-year contract with the Euroleague expires in 2026. L’Olimpia Milano, along with Asvel, have instead requested time to carefully evaluate the situation before making a final decision.