NBA Europe Teams Attract $1bn Bids and Major Investor Interest
- The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) have received significant investor interest for a planned professional basketball league in Europe.
- According to reporting from The Athletic, more than 120 prospective investors have shown serious interest in the new competition.
- The proposed competition is designed to launch in October 2027.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) have received significant investor interest for a planned professional basketball league in Europe. The deadline for initial, non-binding proposals passed at midnight Eastern Time on March 31, 2026, with several bids for permanent franchise spots reportedly exceeding US$1 billion.
According to reporting from The Athletic, more than 120 prospective investors have shown serious interest in the new competition. While the NBA had an expected entry range of US$500 million, multiple bidders have proposed investments of at least US$1 billion.
League Structure and Timeline
The proposed competition is designed to launch in October 2027. The initial iteration of the league is planned to consist of 12 teams.
Mark Tatum, the NBA’s deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, stated that the league has seen significant engagement from a variety of prospective teams and investors. Tatum noted that the scale of the bids indicates a strong belief in the proposed model and the untapped potential for basketball across the European continent.
Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO
The level of engagement and the scale of the bids reflect the marketplace’s belief in our proposed model and the enormous, untapped potential for European basketball. We will now review the bids in more detail and shortlist the partners who share our vision and commitment to accelerating the growth of the game across the continent.
Investor Interest and Market Dynamics
The auction for these franchise spots has attracted a wide range of high-profile financial interest. Entities previously linked with bids include the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), and RedBird.
The NBA has confirmed that it has begun the process of reviewing the submitted bids and analyzing the various markets involved. This review will be used to shortlist partners who align with the NBA and Fiba’s vision for the growth of the sport in Europe.
Potential Challenges and Next Steps
Despite the high volume of bids and the substantial financial offers, the path to launch involves complex negotiations. The Athletic reports that European bidders have raised questions regarding the proposed business model of the league.
These concerns are expected to lead to several weeks of potentially contentious negotiations as the NBA and its advisors work to finalize the structure of the competition.
the NBA is scheduled to meet with the EuroLeague later in April 2026 to discuss the new venture.