NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is making big plans for NBA expansion in Europe. He wants to create a new basketball league there, kind of like the Basketball Africa League.
While it’s not possible to have NBA teams in Europe right now because of some tricky issues, this independent league will work with other groups like FIBA to make basketball more popular in Europe and to make sure that it gets started on the right foot.
Let’s get into the details of this exciting news.
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Adam Silver’s Vision for NBA Expansion in Europe
On a recent episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq”, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver talked about the possible NBA expansion in Europe. He mentioned the idea of setting up a whole new basketball league in Europe before bringing NBA teams over. Cities like Paris, London, Berlin, and Madrid are super interested in basketball, so it makes sense to explore this option.
Silver also shared his thoughts on the travel issues between the U.S. and Europe. He talked about how flights aren’t as fast as they used to be, remembering the days of supersonic planes. But he’s hopeful that new tech could make long flights quicker in the future.
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Looking ahead, Silver thinks we could one day see a European division of the NBA. He said this might not happen for a while, but it could be a huge step for basketball if it does.
Silver is taking his time, talking to people in Europe to make sure everything fits with the local basketball culture.
Future NBA Events in Europe
The NBA is really stepping up its game in Europe, and here’s how:
- NBA Paris Games 2025: For the first time ever, two NBA teams – the San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers – will be playing in Paris. It’s happening on January 23 and 25, 2025, at the Accor Arena.
- Working with FIBA: The NBA is teaming up with FIBA to talk about how they work on NBA expansion in Europe and can expand basketball’s popularity in Europe. The goal is to make sure everything fits with what’s already in place and honours local traditions.
- More Games in Europe: The NBA might host more games in different European cities to get more people excited about basketball.
Overall, the NBA is looking to grow the sport in Europe while also respecting what’s already there. They aren’t focusing on setting up teams in Europe right now because it’s a bit tricky to do, but are planning to start an independent European league, like the Basketball Africa League.
