NBA explores Europe options, including launch of new league

During the last several years, the NBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and EuroLeague have discussed how to cooperatively grow the game of basketball in Europe during a time when the star power from the continent in the NBA is greater than ever, Report informs citing Sportico.

Those conversations are ongoing, but now for the first time, the NBA is considering a variety of more ambitious options that could exclude the EuroLeague. One of those would include a new standalone NBA Europe league, according to multiple people familiar with the NBA’s thinking who were not authorized to speak publicly.

The league has been approached by stakeholders on several ways to expand the European business outside of a EuroLeague partnership. Any new property would be launched in cooperation with FIBA, which has a long relationship with the NBA and on whose central board NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum sits.

Last month, the NBA hired boutique investment bank Raine Group to evaluate the NBA’s opportunities in Europe. The goal is to bridge the gap between the massive basketball fan interest and the size of the current business in Europe.

The NBA and Raine both declined to comment on the plans.