European Basketball League Rejects NBA Collaboration Proposal... Decides to Maintain Independent League

Shareholder clubs of the European professional basketball league, commonly known as the EuroLeague, have rejected a collaboration proposal from the National Basketball Association (NBA) and decided to walk an independent path for the time being.

Reuters reported on the 7th (KST) that representatives from the 13 teams with permanent licenses in the EuroLeague met at Lake Como in Italy to discuss the NBA's proposal, but unanimously rejected it.

While the specific details of the NBA's proposal were not publicly disclosed, it is known to have included plans to integrate the NBA's European expansion project with the EuroLeague.

The NBA has been planning to launch a 16-team "NBA Europe" league in 2027.

Having turned down the NBA's proposal, the EuroLeague decided to maintain its current number of participating teams at 20 while transitioning into a franchise model where the teams hold equity in the league's operating entity.

This means that the licenses of existing EuroLeague teams will be strengthened from merely guaranteeing the "right to participate" to securing a permanent status as "co-shareholders."

Although the EuroLeague left room for future discussions by stating that "the door for negotiations remains open," the European sports community forecasts that new negotiations are unlikely to begin before 2028.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.