Since last March 27 the NBA announced its future arrival to Europa With the creation of a Liga Composed of important clubs of the old continent, nothing more clearly had been known again on this significant matter that would change the basketball paradigm. Beyond those words of Adam Silvercommissioner of the championship of USAthe negotiation process slowed until last Thursday, the day in which a delegation led by the New York met with the Real Madrid in Paris To talk about the landing of the NBA.
“Now is the time to create a league in Europe,” said Adam Silver, who now four months later sits down with Real Madrid about the possibilities of bringing the NBA to the old continent with a model similar to that of the Euroleaguebut incompatible with this competition. The objective of the white club and for which it has been armed by people like Sergio Rodríguez In the sports direction or Carlos Ocaña As responsible for the basketball section is to break with a tournament that already smells like Añejo in the Movistar Arena.
The Real Madrid directive with Florentino Pérez does not understand the direction that the Euroleague is taking with three years of Final Four agreed in Abu Dhabione of them already played without the vote of the club, which they consider that it affected them in the development of the last edition of the European Championship. Initial conversations between NBA and FIBA They were fluid, but the obstacle of the estate chaired by Dejan Bodiroga It is great, and that delayed meetings that are now being held.
One of them is the one last Thursday maintained the Real Madrid directive with the NBA Commissioner headed by Adam Silver. According to The Athleticboth parties negotiated the output of the Euroleague White Club to join the nascent tournament registered under the most important brand of world basketball. “The adhesion of the football giant and basketball would mark a significant step in the launch of the NBA international adventure,” says a fragment of the article of the article Joe Vardon In the American newspaper.
This would be the NBA Europe with Real Madrid as a founder
The plan is to implement the new European club competition model within two or three years, although Real Madrid's relevance in the Euroleague as a founding club complicates the deadlines. The Madrid entity formed the tournament at the beginning of the 21st century in order to clear from its way to the FIBA now already counting a license A, that is, its presence in each edition is immovable.
However, it has an advantage to escape the Euroleague in 2026, a course in which a license that has not renewed. This factor knows the NBA and the meeting in the capital of France has served for both parties to contemplate this and more situations. For its part, the championship renewed with the sports marketing giant IMG Until 2036 and for the next season he extended the quota of participants to 20, generating more intersemanal days and, therefore, enlarging his calendar.
Even so, meditate on a model change, which would not cease to resemble the previous one, dividement to clubs into two conferences in all against all. But Real Madrid is not the only one who has already sat down to talk to the NBA. He Barcelonateam with the one who also walks in football for the creation of the Super Leaguehe Asvel Villeurbaneowned by Tony ParkerLegend of the American League, and the Fenerbahcein force champion of the Euroleague, they have also heard the proposal of the Commissioner of Adam Silver.
And, of course, on the occasion of the visit to Paristhe NBA put on the table to Qatar The extension of PSG To basketball, also ensuring the French capital as one of the venues of the tournament. Berlin y London They enter the focus of the US commissioner, with meetings that have already been with the Alba Berlinwhich recently left the Euroleague to join the Champions of the FIBA.
Meetings in the big capitals
What is clear is that the NBA Europe project takes strength, there seems to be 16 clear participants and one of the great incentives is meritocracy, a factor that has stopped implanting in recent years in the Euroleague. Real Madrid, in case it was necessary clarification, will play the next edition of the European Tournament, whose calendar has already been announced, but looks sideways at the next pass of the Americans for that license that expires in 2026.
