The NBA’s ongoing exploration of “expanding its role” in European basketball will “continue this week” at the league’s BOG meeting in N.Y., according to Tim Reynolds of the AP. The NBA and FIBA have “been in ramped-up talks since at least last summer” about adding either an “annual competition in Europe or even having an NBA-operated league there.” The NBA and FIBA -- who have had a “working relationship for decades -- have a similar vision” about the potential of the game in Europe from “both a commercial and competitive standpoint.” Sportico first reported the league was set to review a proposed European league this week (AP, 3/25).
GOING GLOBAL: CBSSPORTS.com’s James Herbert cited some details from the Sportico report, including that league owners are considering “eight to 10 franchises” for a possible European league. It would be a “‘semi-open’ proposal,” meaning there would be “up to four spots for the best teams in the EuroLeague.” The franchises in places “like London or Paris could sell for at least” $500M. The NBA would “sell the permanent franchise slots to outside investors,” with the NBA “holding 50% of the equity and franchise owners holding the other 50%.” That is a setup “identical to the equity structure of the WNBA” up until it raised outside capital in 2022. Sources said that NBA officials would “prefer to sell those franchises to people outside of the league,” meaning “sovereign wealth funds, private capital, wealthy individuals or existing European basketball clubs” (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/25).
