NBA Europe: The League Kicks Off in 2027 with 12 Franchises
Historic announcement at Bocconi University in Milan: in 2027, the NBA will launch a European league featuring the continent’s leading basketball cities
The project is now a reality – the NBA is officially landing in Europe. During the Football Business Forum held at Bocconi University, George Aivazoglou, general manager of NBA Europe, unveiled the details of the new competition, which will tip off in October 2027.
The announcement marks a historic milestone: 12 permanent franchises, joined by four merit-based spots, will form the first-ever European NBA league. Among these, two will be Italian – Milan and Rome.
Milan and Rome, Italy’s Two Pillars of the Project
Aivazoglou confirmed that Milan and Rome will be part of the league’s founding group.
Milan is home to some of the world’s most recognized brands. Two major football clubs, an international-level basketball team like Armani – we couldn’t possibly leave it out
George Aivazoglou
Said the executive, emphasizing that talks are underway with various local organizations to define the team’s ownership structure and arena location.
The capital has a huge fan base. We can either revive a historic team or create a brand-new one from scratch
George Aivazoglou
Aivazoglou stated, hinting that the city will be a key hub for the NBA’s growth in Italy.
NBA Europe: The New League’s Format
NBA Europe will launch with a semi-open structure featuring 16 teams:
- 12 permanent franchises (already selected);
- 4 teams qualifying each year through sporting merit.
The permanent franchises will be: Milan, Rome, London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Munich, Athens, and Istanbul.
The remaining four will be chosen based on results in national leagues and the Basketball Champions League, with which the NBA has formed a partnership – a mechanism that, according to Aivazoglou, “gives everyone a chance to dream”.
Toward Closer Integration
Beyond the league’s launch, the NBA is already looking further ahead. The general manager revealed the potential creation of a mixed competition between American and European teams – a sort of intercontinental NBA Cup or “Club World Cup” for basketball.
Such a development could mark the beginning of a truly global ecosystem, where American and European basketball become increasingly intertwined, creating new commercial and sporting opportunities.