Real Madrid and FC Barcelona confirmed as the pillars of the NBA Europe project

The NBA has taken a historic step by confirming the first official details of NBA Europe, a new continental league that would start in October 2027. In the announcement made at the Football Business Forum at Bocconi University in Milan, George Aivazoglou, general manager of NBA Europe, presented the tournament structure and revealed the twelve permanent franchises that will form the basis of the championship. Among them, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona stand out for their sporting and symbolic weight, representing Spain in this new phase of the American league's global expansion.

As Aivazoglou explained, the format will include 16 teams, with 12 being fixed and 4 gaining access based on sporting merits, from European competitions such as the Basketball Champions League or the main national leagues. This "semi-open" formula aims to combine the stability of major brands with the competitive incentive of promotions based on performance.

The executive emphasized that NBA Europe aims to elevate the level of basketball on the continent, strengthening from grassroots to the most established clubs. In this context, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will play an essential role. Not only for their history and success in European basketball, but also for their global relevance as sports brands. Both entities have clubs with great tradition, a solid structure, and an immense social base, making them key pieces of the project.

Aivazoglou highlighted that the league has sought a balance between tradition and international projection. In addition to the two Spanish franchises, London and Manchester (United Kingdom), Paris and Lyon (France), Berlin and Munich (Germany), Athens, Istanbul, Milan, and Rome will also be present. These twelve cities, he stated, combine "history, market, and passion for sports," ensuring a solid foundation for the competition's growth.

What About the EuroLeague?

However, the creation of NBA Europe raises several uncertainties. At this point, it is unclear what will happen to the EuroLeague, the current top continental competition, and how both tournaments will integrate or coexist. The role of cities with a great basketball tradition, such as Belgrade, which have been pillars of European basketball for decades and are now excluded from the initial list of fixed venues, has also not been specified.

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