The NBA’s bid to join forces with Europe’s top club basketball competition hit a major roadblock Tuesday: EuroLeague shareholder clubs rejected the league’s proposal, putting the two sides on separate tracks as the NBA pursues its European expansion.
Representatives of EuroLeague’s 13 shareholder clubs met in Cernobbio, Italy, on Oct. 6. The league did not name the NBA or publicly detail a rejection in its statement after the meeting, but Reuters and multiple other outlets reported that the clubs turned down the offer while leaving room for further discussions.
The reported sticking points go beyond money. Front Office Sports reported that EuroLeague owners objected to a proposal that would have required them to pause planned expansion, and felt the offer undervalued the competition they had built. EuroLeague is pursuing its own changes: shareholders agreed to move toward turning their long-term licenses into permanent franchises. The clubs did not formally approve an expansion from 20 to 24 teams, with a decision on additional long-term licenses expected within a month, Reuters reported.
For the NBA, the rejection complicates its effort to build a unified European project with EuroLeague, but does not erase its stated ambition. The league has said it plans to move forward with NBA Europe even without an agreement, targeting a 16-team competition in 2027. That timetable now faces added uncertainty: one executive cited by Reuters said collaboration would be difficult to organize in time for the 2027-28 season.
Both sides have said they remain open to talks, so Tuesday’s vote does not necessarily end the conversation. It does, however, make the next move consequential: the NBA can revise its terms, press ahead independently, or risk a contest for clubs, players and audiences in Europe. EuroLeague’s parallel push to secure its own franchises signals that it intends to shape that future on its own terms.