The deadline for teams that have submitted bids to complete their applications to secure the 12 “permanent” licenses for NBA Europe has passed, and there is great satisfaction within the NBA regarding the quality of the proposals, as well as their origin, as indicated by remarks from the league’s deputy commissioner, Mark Tatum.

“The final bids we received for permanent spots in the new European league supported by the NBA and FIBA are extremely encouraging. These bids reflect the tremendous interest and momentum that has built around this project. This will be the largest influx of capital European basketball has ever seen, and there are now clear frontrunners for each of our 12 target cities—including many existing basketball and soccer teams. “We will now work with the NBA and FIBA Boards of Directors to finalize the long-term agreements,” he emphasized.

It should be noted that bids were submitted from Greece by AEK, as well as by another group that does not represent any specific team.

The number and scale of the bids, combined with the caliber of the candidate clubs and investment groups that submitted them, far exceed what is required to support a successful launch and represent an unprecedented level of investment in European basketball. This is by far the largest amount of capital ever allocated to the sport in Europe.

Since March 31, when the initial bids were submitted, many of them have increased by more than 100% from their initial submission. The NBA has received numerous bids ranging from $500 million to $1 billion, as well as bids exceeding one billion (!) for each of the project’s 12 target cities.

More than 20 bids were submitted by existing basketball and soccer clubs, with many of them coming from teams competing in the EuroLeague, as exit clauses in their agreements allow them to leave the EuroLeague after each season.

Over the first 10 years, the NBA plans to distribute more than 10 billion dollars. Teams that secure a permanent franchise are expected to recoup their costs by the third year and will then have significant potential for profitability.

Several former NBA owners are either part of investment groups that have submitted bids or have expressed serious interest, demonstrating their belief that NBA Europe is a very promising and financially sound project.

Now that the application period for prospective franchises has closed, the NBA will select the best candidates, in collaboration with FIBA, which will participate in the process. Announcements regarding which franchises receive licenses will not be made all at once but are expected to be released gradually, with the first ones coming this summer.

The model developed by the NBA and FIBA will significantly benefit fans, clubs, and players, as it will create a more open path for every club in Europe to participate in a top European competition and bring high-level basketball to more fans acrossacross the continent. With this in mind, four of the 16 spots will be available to teams through the BCL (the defending champion) and national leagues (via qualifiers).

The NBA and FIBA have also made significant progress on the tournament’s structure, aiming for 16 teams to play a regular season, as well as a playoff format consisting of best-of-series all the way to the finals (i.e., not a Final 4), which they believe is the fairest way to crown a champion and the most rewarding format for fans, who want to see the best teams play more games.

Assuming the league begins in October 2027, the upcoming 2026–27 season of the BCL and domestic leagues will be crucial and significant for the NBA and FIBA championships.

It should be noted that the door to collaboration with the EuroLeague has not been closed, but there are certain red lines, such as the emphasis on national leagues, the windows, and accessibility to Europe’s top competition. The NBA and FIBA met with EuroLeague leadership this month and continue to seek a collaboration model that will be constructive and financially sound for the entire European basketball ecosystem. The three parties will meet again in the coming weeks, but the NBA and FIBA are also prepared to move forward with the clubs and investor groups that have submitted final bids.

*photo source: AP