Real Madrid and Berlin in ‘NBA Europe’ negotiations

The NBA has discussed its “vision” for a proposed European basketball championship with Real Madrid and other Spanish clubs, commissioner Adam Silver says.

Initial plans for “NBA Europe,” starting in 2027, call for 10 to 12 franchises to remain in the league on an annual basis.

Announcement

Silver said the idea would be to mix established European teams with new ones, with the league initially funded by selected member clubs.

The 63-year-old spoke Thursday before the NBA’s first regular season game in Berlin, Germany, which the Orlando Magic won 118-111 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The two teams will face each other again on Sunday at the O2 Arena in London.

A league of potentially 16 teams is also being explored, combining the normal 10-12 franchises with open spots for which teams can qualify.

As basketball and the NBA grow in popularity in Europe, the American League will host six games in four different European cities over the next three seasons, with London, Manchester, Berlin and Paris hosting games between 2026 and 2028.

Announcement

Silver said talks with Real Madrid, which plays in the EuroLeague and is considered one of the biggest basketball clubs in Europe, were “more in the category of fact-finding,” but confirmed that discussions had taken place with another EuroLeague team, Alba Berlin, whose Uber Arena hosted the NBA game.

“We’re trying to find the best combination of old and new; tradition and innovation,” Silver said.

Alba Berlin, he said, is “the model of the kind of club we would like to see in a potential European championship”.

Reports say the current EuroLeague is concerned about the new venture, threatening legal action against the NBA should clubs break existing agreements to take part in the new competition.

But Silver said he doesn’t think the two leagues will clash, adding, “There’s a lot of room for competition.”