Tackling Europe: Talks between the NBA and FIBA Fuel Expansion Rumours

During a recent visit to the Paris Olympics, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver observed an impressive display of the league’s global reach: NBA jerseys of all styles were a common sight in the streets. 

In the wake of the Games, the NBA’s commitment to leveraging this opportunity is on full display, with the league now engaging in advanced discussions with FIBA, the sport’s global governing body, to discuss opportunity’s to enhance the NBA’s footprint within Europe. These discussions include the potential establishment of an annual tournament or even an NBA-operated league on the continent.

While the dialogue between the NBA and FIBA is longstanding, the recent talks have gained momentum, particularly following the completion of the NBA’s new media rights deals for the 2025-26 season. Silver highlighted that these conversations are now “much more serious,” reflecting the league’s strategic vision to unlock commercial and competitive opportunities in Europe.

“We certainly haven’t made any definitive decisions,” Silver said. “I continue to believe there’s enormous opportunity here. It’s not something where we’ll transform a league structure in the short term. But I think that there’s an appetite among our team owners for additional investment in global basketball. We have a huge initiative in China. We have a huge initiative in Africa. Given the quality of the basketball here in Europe, it would seem to make sense that we should be doing something here as well.”

Silver’s visit to the Olympics offers a strategic platform to engage with FIBA executives and other stakeholders, framing it as a listening tour to better understand the landscape. The timing of these initiatives aligns with the growing prominence of European players in the NBA, including stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama, among others.

With approximately 60 European players in the NBA, constituting nearly half of the league’s international players, and the last two No. 1 draft picks hailing from France, the appeal of European basketball talent is undeniable. This momentum underscores the potential for further integration and development within the European market.

The NBA’s historical presence in Europe dates back to its first exhibition game in 1984, with regular-season games following since 1993. This January, San Antonio and Indiana will make history by playing back-to-back regular-season games in Paris, marking the first occurrence of its kind in Europe.

Silver noted the significance of basketball’s popularity at the Paris Olympics, where a crowd of 27,000 watched Brazil play Japan. This high demand for basketball events and the growing media market in Europe, valued at over $20 billion, further illustrate the NBA’s opportunity for expansion.

“When we first played a preseason game in France, there were zero players from France in the NBA. We now have 14, including the last two No. 1 picks,” Silver said. “So, I think that that’s just a great example of the development we’re seeing of the game here.”

While the NBA’s future initiatives in Europe remain under consideration, Silver emphasised that any actions will be designed to complement rather than replace the existing European basketball infrastructure. The focus is on sustainable growth, ensuring that the NBA’s efforts are additive and respectful of the region’s basketball heritage.

“We certainly don’t want to do damage to the strong bones of the basketball infrastructure that are in place,” Silver said. “On the other hand, in terms of regional and pan-regional competition here in Europe, it would be my sense — and again, I’m still studying — that lots of investors are losing significant amounts of money every year. And while this isn’t just about money, most things that continue to lose money without a trajectory towards profitability ultimately do not survive. And so, whatever we do here, I think it’s important that it’s additive to the European basketball structure.”

Through strategic collaboration and thoughtful investment, the NBA is poised to strengthen its ties with Europe, with France at the forefront of this global expansion.