Stuart Hodge
Adam Silver was speaking at the NBA Finals in San Antonio about the league which has Manchester and London as target cities for a franchise; NBA Commissioner revealed that team announcements should be expected later this year, potentially in the autumn
Last Updated: 04/06/26 9:37am
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was speaking ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals
The NBA’s new European league remains firmly on course to tip off next year, according to commissioner Adam Silver.
“We are very much on schedule,” Silver said of the competition, which the league is building alongside basketball’s global governing body, FIBA.
“It is our hope and anticipation that that league will launch in the ’27-28 season in Europe. We are on track.”
That will be music to the ears of UK fans who are eagerly awaiting and anticipating the launch of the league, given that both London and Manchester are very much in the crosshairs for a potential franchise.
“Final bids from franchises are due at the end of this month, at the end of the month in June,” Silver added. “We’ve seen record interest and we’re very excited about the ongoing opportunity and working closely with FIBA, our federation.”
The NBA is keen to tap into the European fan culture seen in football and if the January game in London was anything to go by, then the NBA stars themselves are keen to see it.
“It was great. Definitely a great experience. They were very energetic,” said Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies, following their game against Orlando Magic in the capital.
“I think all players should actually want to come and have this opportunity to play over here and actually experience everything us and the Magic got to in this last week.
“I feel like it’s been great, and if it keeps rolling, I felt like both sides will love it.”
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Orlando Magic star Anthony Black produced the dunk of the year during the NBA’s trip to Europe this year
It’s Manchester’s turn for a game next year when Victor Wembanyama, currently leading the San Antonio Spurs against the New York Knicks in basketball’s biggest showpiece, returns to Europe to play games in Paris on January 14 and at Co-op Live on January 17.
By then, a Manchester NBA Europe could feasibly be announced, after the commissioner put a timeline on that for the first time.
“Presumably, we will be in position in the fall to award franchises,” he added.
That’s autumn over here in the UK but the new league is very much in its spring.
Tatum insists NBA is ‘ready to proceed’ without EuroLeague
The NBA has hardened its line on negotiations with the EuroLeague after deputy commissioner Mark Tatum reaffirmed an October 2027 launch for the 16-team competition and made clear the league is pressing ahead whether or not the EuroLeague comes on board.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic has invested in an Italian team which hopes to become part of NBA Europe (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)
“We remain in active discussions with the EuroLeague,” Tatum said. “We believe all parties must be aligned, and we are also realistic. We are ready to proceed with FIBA and our partners if needed.”
The EuroLeague counts most of the continent’s giants among its ranks, the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Olympiacos and Fenerbahce, and the crossover with football clubs is very much a key part of the strategy and thinking at play.
Luka Doncic, who came through at Real Madrid, is already sold on the project and invested in an Italian team at the end of last month which intends to relocate to Rome.
“I’ve dreamed for a long time about owning a team in Europe, and seeing it finally become a reality is incredible,” the Los Angeles Lakers superstar said. “Vanoli has a great history, and we’re ready to take it to the next level in Rome. We have an outstanding group of partners, and I firmly believe we can build something special for basketball, both in Italy and across Europe.”
Mark Tatum spoke to international media about the plans for NBA Europe earlier this week
Tatum sees that as a signal of intent and the only guaranteed route to a permanent place, he stressed, is a successful franchise bid – with a meeting between the parties on both sides of the negotiation pencilled in for the coming weeks.
“It’s amazing to have someone like Luka, who played in the EuroLeague, to return this way to European basketball,” Tatum added of the Slovenian. “He is very excited about our project.”
The bids are in by the end of the month and after that, bidders find out which cities, clubs and arenas make the cut.
If London and Manchester land where plenty expect them to, the best basketball outside America might soon be a short train ride away.