The NBA’s had its fair share of crazes, but few hit like the Euro fever. It kicked off in the late ’90s and early 2000s, when teams started realizing Europe wasn’t just a scouting detour—it was a goldmine. Think Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker… even Manu Ginóbili (yep, from Argentina, but lit up Europe before the NBA). These guys didn’t just show up—they changed the game. Teams saw skill, IQ, and a totally different style of play, and suddenly, drafting internationally wasn’t a gamble—it was a strategy. Fast forward to today, and that strategy is going global in a whole new way.
On March 27, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced plans to launch a brand-new European basketball league in partnership with FIBA. The goal? A semi-closed, 16-team league set to debut in 2026, with 12 permanent clubs and 4 rotating spots determined by national league and FIBA Champions League performance. Franchises could reportedly go for around $500 million, and just like the NBA, there’d be salary caps and a 50-50 equity split between the league and franchise owners. It’s bold, big, and already sparking serious debates across the European sports world. That’s where the former San Antonio Spurs legend, Tony Parker, comes in.
Next stop: Geneva. This Tuesday, a high-powered EuroLeague committee is set to meet with the NBA and FIBA to talk about the future of basketball in Europe. According to Eurohoops, that committee includes Parker, the first French player to truly break through in the NBA, and now runs ASVEL as club president. Alongside him? Maccabi’s Danny Federman, Fenerbahce GM Mauricio Gherardini, Milan’s Christos Stavropoulos, and Bayern Munich’s Marco Pesic. Together, they’ll sit down to hash out what this next chapter might look like.
Behind all the negotiations, though, is a genuine desire to grow the game—and EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas made that clear during the Final Four press conference. “We go with an open heart and open mind,” he said, setting the tone ahead of next week’s meeting. “We just want to have an open discussion, explore how to grow the game, how to improve basketball,” he added. The word that stuck with him most? “Explore.” As he put it, “They used the word ‘explore,’ so maybe I’ll copy that. We’ll sit down and explore possibilities.”
That spirit of exploration is already playing out behind the scenes. While global talks heat up, EuroLeague isn’t standing still—it’s actively planning its own next step. Just before the Final Four tipped off in Abu Dhabi, top executives and team reps met to discuss expanding the league from 18 to 20 teams next season. A final vote is set for May 29, and according to BasketNews, things are looking good. The front-runners to join? Hapoel Tel Aviv, Dubai Basketball, and Valencia Basket—likely bumping out ALBA Berlin. If approved, the new format would include 38 regular-season games, no conferences, and two extra double-game weeks. Bottom line: Motiejunas wasn’t bluffing when he said EuroLeague was open to growth.
With such expansion comes not only more games but also increased revenue streams from broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales. And if the collaboration with new markets like Abu Dhabi moves forward, it could bring billions in investment and commercial opportunities. So, it’s safe to estimate that this bold move to grow the league isn’t just about basketball—it’s a massive financial play as well.
Tony Parker at the center of NBA-FIBA talks
Tony Parker’s not just watching from the sidelines—he’s right in the middle of the NBA’s push into Europe. He confirmed that he’s been directly involved in talks with NBA commissioner Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum. “The idea was to talk about European basketball and bring everyone back to the table—the NBA, EuroLeague, and FIBA,” he told L’Équipe. But he didn’t sugarcoat the stakes either: “It is clear. We either reach an agreement or the NBA comes alone. We need to focus on a merger or a partnership.” And yes, Parker’s made it clear—he’d love to see ASVEL be part of whatever comes next.
But while Parker’s pushing for unity, not everyone is ready to welcome the NBA with open arms. Serbian coaching legend Željko Obradović made his stance clear during the EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi. “We hear a lot of rumors. I don’t know what is true, but what is not true. We need to protect ourselves,” he said, adding, “We need everybody to understand that we have the best basketball over here in Europe.” It’s not resistance for the sake of it—it’s pride, and a call to protect the unique culture of European basketball. EuroLeague president Dejan Bodiroga echoed that same feeling, saying, “We need to protect what makes us special.”
Motiejunas has also been firm but open. While he’s shown interest in collaboration, he’s clearly not sold on the idea of launching a brand-new league. “We can discuss, we can talk. There’s many ways to partner and to improve, to make the basketball product better. But we don’t need a new league,” he said, as quoted by Japan Times. One big concern? Logistics. Unlike U.S. teams that play within just a few time zones, a European division of the NBA would deal with brutal travel schedules across multiple borders.
As the clock ticks down to Tuesday’s meeting in Geneva, all eyes are on Tony Parker and the power players at the table. Will this be the moment Europe and the NBA finally find common ground? One thing’s clear—what happens next could reshape the future of global basketball.
The post Adam Silver’s Billion-Dollar NBA Project at Stake as Tony Parker’s EuroLeague Panel Takes Major Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.
