NBA Europe League 2027: Everything We Know So Far and How It Will Change Basketball on the Continent

On February 16, Pau Gasol confirmed what many in the basketball world had been anticipating. The two-time NBA champion is now officially working alongside the NBA and FIBA to help build a brand-new European basketball league – one that could fundamentally reshape the sport on the continent.

Targeted for an October 2027 launch, the NBA Europe project represents the most ambitious structural change in European basketball in decades. Here is everything we know so far.

How the NBA Europe League Will Work: 12 Teams, 4 Wild Cards, and a New Format

The league’s framework is centred on 12 permanent franchises. These teams will secure their places through a formal bidding process that is already underway, meaning ownership groups across Europe are actively competing for a seat at the table.

Beyond the core 12, four additional spots will be awarded each season to teams that earn their way in through domestic and lower-tier European competitions. One proposed model reserves a spot for the winner of FIBA’s Basketball Champions League, with three remaining places filled through a separate qualifying tournament.

It is a hybrid system that borrows from European football’s promotion logic while anchoring itself with the franchise stability that defines American professional sports.

The Power Players Behind the Project

The project’s momentum is backed by serious institutional weight. Gasol’s role, while not yet formally defined, places him at the centre of conversations between the NBA, FIBA, and prospective club owners. He described the venture as “a significant opportunity to take a step forward and help our sport of basketball grow in Europe”.

Tony Parker has also been involved, and the two are among the most recognisable basketball figures driving the initiative.

The financial backing is equally impressive. A high-profile summit held in London in January drew roughly 250 attendees, including representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Nike, and Amazon Prime.

RedBird Capital, the investment firm behind AC Milan, was also present. Its founder, Gerry Cardinale, called the venture “one of the best things that happens in sport” if executed correctly. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver still needs formal approval from the league’s 30 team owners, but all indications suggest the wheels are firmly in motion.

What This Means for EuroLeague and Domestic Leagues Like LBA

The biggest question hanging over the project is its relationship with the EuroLeague. A new NBA-backed continental league would inevitably compete for the same talent pool, broadcast deals, and fan attention. FC Barcelona has already signalled its position by choosing to remain aligned with EuroLeague, suggesting the transition will not be seamless for everyone.

For Italian basketball, the implications are significant. Could Serie A clubs bid for one of the 12 permanent spots? Could the investment reshape how LBA teams develop and retain talent? Gasol has framed the project’s ambition as transforming European basketball into “a sustainable model with real growth margins, rather than a loss-making sport”.

That language points directly at the financial struggles many domestic clubs face and positions NBA Europe as a potential solution, not just a competitor.

New Markets, New Opportunities: Betting, Fantasy, and Fan Engagement

A league of this magnitude would not just change what fans watch. It would transform how they engage. The involvement of Amazon Prime and Nike at the ground level signals a media and commercial infrastructure far beyond what European basketball currently operates with.

For fans who already engage through fantasy basketball and sports betting, a new continental league would open entirely fresh markets. With new competitions come new platforms, and it becomes increasingly important to rely on safe, licensed, and trustworthy betting sites that operate under proper regulatory oversight.

The expansion of the European basketball calendar could also create new fantasy formats, giving platforms like Dunkest additional competitions and player pools to build around.

The Timeline: What Happens Next

Despite the momentum, several milestones remain before the first tip-off. NBA owners still need to formally approve the league’s creation. The bidding process for permanent franchises is ongoing, and broadcast rights negotiations have yet to reach their final stages.

Meanwhile, the EuroLeague Final Four in Athens is scheduled for May 2026, and Phase 2 ticket sales open on February 26 – a reminder that European basketball’s existing infrastructure is very much alive.

The target remains October 2027 for the inaugural season. Throughout the remainder of 2026, expect announcements around confirmed ownership groups, host cities, and media partnerships to accelerate.

The next 18 months will determine whether European basketball receives its most significant upgrade in a generation, or whether political complexities between leagues and federations slow the project down. Either way, this is a story every basketball fan on the continent should be following closely.