Adam Silver’s New Project: “European Teams in the NBA Playoffs”
Adam Silver is thinking big again: European and African teams could one day enter the NBA Playoffs
Adam Silver continues to dream big – not just new franchises in the U.S., but even a future where top European (and possibly African) clubs could face NBA teams in the playoffs.
The commissioner believes that logistics would not be an obstacle at all. On the contrary, it could foster the development of a scenario never seen before.
If you think about a flight from New York to Los Angeles, there’s no reason why, with four teams in Europe, you couldn’t travel, play in New York or Brooklyn, fly to London, play three or four games, and then come back. It’s absolutely doable
Adam Silver, Sports Business Journal
It’s a visionary idea, but it fits into an already global context. The Raptors remain the only team outside the U.S., but NBA basketball now speaks every language: from Jokic to Doncic, from Antetokounmpo to Wembanyama, all the way to MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the iconic faces are coming from abroad.
It’s therefore no surprise that Silver is accelerating the NBA Europe project, which could launch with six traveling men’s and women’s teams, with franchise fees of $500 million (the same amount Durant wants to invest in Paris Saint-Germain), backed by the Saudi PIF fund.
The goal is clear: a midseason tournament that becomes a sort of “confederation” between clubs from North America, Europe, and Africa. Commercially, it would be a goldmine, but the game is still to be played.
Moreover, according to some reports, LeBron James and Maverick Carter have parallel plans for a European league, considered direct competition by the NBA.
We could imagine the best teams from other leagues entering our playoffs. With advances in air travel, I see no difference compared to a New York–Los Angeles trip: with four teams in Europe, you could play in New York or Brooklyn, fly to London for three or four games, and then come back. In our league, it’s absolutely feasible
Adam Silver, Sports Business Journal
Amid scandals, a struggling All-Star Game, and declining ratings, Silver has many dossiers on his desk. But NBA Europe could be his legacy: a move capable of redefining the Playoffs and the geography of world basketball.