Adam Silver said that a new basketball league in Europe backed by the NBA and FIBA could launch by 2027 or 2028.
Silver, who admitted that the date is “ambitious, no doubt about it,” added that no firm date has been finalized.
“I don’t think I’d want to go much longer than ’28,” Silver said as a conference hosted by Front Office Sports. “The opportunity is now to do something like this.”
Plans for the league were announced in March. JPMorgan Chase and Raine Group were brought in last month to advise on its creation.
The league is expected to have 16 teams, which would include a mix of existing clubs like Real Madrid and soccer brands like Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
“I would say I’m enthusiastic about it,” Silver said.
Silver added that he and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum have had positive discussions with political leaders, teams, and other possible stakeholders over the creation of the league.
“Basketball’s probably the fastest-growing sport in the world right now, and it’s a huge No. 2 sport in Europe behind soccer, so I think there’s a real opportunity,” Silver said.
