During a major interview with French outlet Le Equipe, NBA Europe and Middle East general manager George Ayvazoglu said that the start of the new competition is expected to be in October 2027 at the earliest. It was revealed that the pilot season will feature 16 teams, 12 of which will have permanent contracts, while four will come through the qualifiers.
Not long after, the famous French newspaper came back with the news that a key meeting in London might be planned for mid-October. The NBA is currently holding a meeting with FIBA in Geneva, but what is planned for the capital of Great Britain is reportedly far more important.
Namely, the invitation to the event was received by representatives of numerous teams, as well as investment funds, as well as potential partners interested in creating an NBA competition on the European continent. It is stated that some of the key details related to the future of the new league could be finalized at the meeting.
Apparently, it is not ruled out that Paris could even have two clubs, one from PSG and the other from Paris, which is now competing in the Euroleague and has strong support from the NBA world.
Along with the aforementioned teams, it is widely speculated that the first to make the transition from Euroleague to NBA Europe will be Real Madrid, Barcelona, Fenerbahçe... A franchise from London is also in the mix, followed by Galatasaray, Alba Berlin... And each team will be required to make an initial investment of at least $500.
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