EuroLeague Shareholders Reject NBA Merger to Pursue Independent Expansion

EuroLeague shareholder clubs have formally declined a merger offer from the NBA, opting to maintain organizational independence and proceed with their own expansion plans. The decision, reached during a summit on October 6, 2026, in Cernobbio, Italy, effectively ends negotiations for a joint “NBA Europe” venture and sets both organizations on divergent paths for the continent’s basketball future.

A primary sticking point in the negotiations was the NBA’s requirement that EuroLeague halt its planned growth. According to reports from the meeting at Villa d’Este, the NBA’s proposal would have required EuroLeague to pause its current trajectory, which aims to increase the league from 20 to 24 teams by the 2027-28 season. Shareholders viewed this condition as a direct conflict with the league’s long-term commercial and competitive goals.

plans to expand to 24 teams by the 2027-28 season, focusing on sovereign growth.

The rejection reflects a significant gap in how both entities value the European market and its existing structures. While the NBA sought a consolidated structure under its own branding, some European owners reportedly characterized the proposal as a “power play” that undervalued the clubs’ established brand equity. Reuters reports that while shareholders voted against the immediate merger, the door for future communication remains theoretically open, though the two sides are now moving into a period of direct competition.

NBA’s “Plan B” and the 2027 Launch

Despite the setback in Cernobbio, the NBA is moving forward with an independent European strategy. The league remains committed to launching its own 16-team league in October 2027. This project is expected to target major metropolitan markets such as London, Paris, and Rome—cities the NBA views as vital for global growth but which are currently not the primary hubs for EuroLeague’s most successful shareholders.

Financial expectations for the NBA’s independent venture remain high. The league is reportedly seeking franchise fees ranging from $500 million to $1 billion per team. This valuation far exceeds current European basketball standards and underscores the NBA’s belief in the commercial potential of a closed-model system similar to its North American structure.

EuroLeague is responding by accelerating its own 10-year plan. By reaching its 24-team target by the 2027-28 season, the league hopes to secure the most prominent basketball markets and talent under its own banner before the NBA can establish a foothold. Part of this strategy involves potentially converting its 13 core shareholder clubs into permanent franchises to solidify their long-term stakes and prevent defections.

Although the shareholder vote was a collective rejection of the merger, reports suggest that at least six EuroLeague clubs are still monitoring the NBA’s independent project. While no formal moves have been made, the presence of a competing high-capital league could pressure EuroLeague’s internal unity as the 2027 deadline approaches. For now, the European basketball landscape remains divided, with two of the world’s most powerful sporting organizations preparing to battle for the same market share.

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