Adam Silver, NBA teases possible Euroleague expansion

The idea of NBA expansion has been one of the most talked about topics between the media and the Commissioner Adam Silver in recent years. Whether it’s the NBA Summer League or the NBA Finals, Silver is always asked about the league’s thoughts on a possible expansion. While it seems inevitable that a 31st and 32nd team will be added to the NBA in the next few years, Silver and the league are focused on possible expansion ventures outside of the United States, particularly in Europe.

Just last summer, The match between Team USA and France in the gold medal match at the Olympic Games attracted the attention of every sports fan in the world. The commissioner even went so far as to call the event “a fantastic performance for the sport of basketball.”

Before Thursday NBA Paris game between the Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs, Silver held a press conference to discuss several ventures the NBA is exploring with France and European basketball as a whole. The biggest topic of conversation was about the NBA exploring the possibilities of a new league in Europe.

“From the NBA’s standpoint, we continue to explore opportunities that may exist to continue to develop the basketball infrastructure here,” Silver said Thursday. “I’ve talked in the past about our exploration of a potential league here. I would say, to the extent that we are looking at that opportunity, it would be one part of a broader approach to basketball across Europe.

“Everything we do would involve a partnership with FIBA, although there is currently no agreement.” We are still in the research phase.”

The The NBA wants to invest and be involved in European basketball it’s nothing new.

Silver spoke repeatedly about how the game of basketball is constantly growing, and even took a moment to point out that many of the NBA’s recent MVPs, like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, came to the league from Europe.

One of the main goals of the NBA is to continue to build its global atmosphere, and the idea of ​​creating a new league in Europe that would be managed by Silver and the NBA is certainly something that is being explored.

“We are looking closely to see if there is an opportunity to professionalize the game to another level to create a greater commercial opportunity.”

At this time, there are no agreements or contracts in preparation for the NBA to create a new European league. Much like the ongoing expansion talks in the United States, this is simply an idea that the league office is doing more research on in hopes of forming something new down the line.

For now, the NBA remains open to generating a more diverse international following. That’s why Silver wants to take the NBA to other countries during the regular season, as well as find new ways to implement aspects of European basketball into the league.

Adam Silver advocates for the international development of basketball

In addition to discussing the future and the possibility of forming a new European basketball league in partnership with the NBA, Silver discussed how he envisions more regular season games being played overseas.

The NFL has seen growing interest through its international ventures in recent years, so the NBA is expected to follow suit. One of the next country on Silver’s list is Germanywho also has a strong interest in the NBA as well as France.

“Stay with us! “We are looking very carefully at potentially bringing a regular season game to Germany,” Silver said. “That’s something our office in Europe is concentrating on right now.”

International basketball has grown exponentially in recent years, and we have seen a huge increase in potential and talent coming from Europe from abroad to play in the NBA. This growing interest and demand for the NBA overseas is the driving force behind the league discussing new opportunities such as forming a European league and potentially scheduling more games like the German scenario discussed by Silver.

Silver and league representatives met with a number of interested parties this week to gauge interest in the new European league. Although these have only been preliminary discussions, Silver claims the reaction has been very positive and that there is more to it than just basketball.

“The NBA is a unique league in my opinion where of course we represent the best basketball, and with the WNBA the best women’s basketball, but it’s also a lifestyle brand, and I think that’s something that comes up in a lot of meetings, that there’s a strong connection with music, fashion , culture, art”, Silver continued. “I think it’s really appreciated, that the NBA is even something a little different from basketball, from pure basketball.”

“I think the idea that we’ve heard is that if you can bring those elements of the NBA brand and bring them to Europe as part of some structured league potentially. We think there is a real opportunity.”