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Real Madrid appears to be following the path of NBA Europe. The Spanish team, who have yet to renew its EuroLeague contract, could be pioneers in the new project that is on the horizon. As confirmed by Jorge Garbajosa, president of FIBA Europe, on COPE’s Tiempo de Juego program, the Spanish team’s interest is genuine. “We know that Real Madrid has shown interest, and the NBA is in direct, high-level talks with the club,” Garbajosa told COPE. “We know it’s an interesting option for them, as it is for other clubs, as Adam Silver said the other day,” he continued.
Following the NBA commissioner’s press conference in Berlin and the subsequent meeting in London, the NBA Europe project appears to be laying its groundwork. “The feeling we have is that this has gotten underway, that this is going to happen,” confirmed Garbajosa himself.
Bane is officially listed as American by the NBA but has Nigerian heritage and is yet to represent any nation on the international stage. Having qualified for their first Olympics at London 2012, Nigeria's basketball team went on to also compete at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, but missed out on the 2024 Games in Paris. "I would for sure," said the shooting guard when asked about the possibility of answering the call if it came. "We just need to get all the Nigerians together for the Olympics coming up in the next couple years and make something happen."
"The funding would potentially come from, at least initially, the member clubs of the league," Silver said. "I think similar to any startup venture, the participants would be the investors, and over time would hope to seek a return. ... I think if we were to successfully launch this new league, it will take a while, I think, before it is a viable commercial enterprise. I think all the participants recognize that this is not for those who have a short-term perspective." Also part of the plan: New arenas would be needed in certain markets, which will obviously take time and more money. "What we are telling interested parties is that you need to have a very long-term perspective," Silver said.
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Malachi Flynn is expected to be the new naturalized player for the Turkish national team, according to Umit Avci. The news was announced during the “Fast Break” show of Sports TV in Turkey on the first day of 2026.
The former NBA player currently competes for Bahçeşehir Koleji, being a standout both in the Turkish BSL league and in the BKT EuroCup. Flynn is expected to join the team for the upcoming FIBA Qualifying “Windows” in February and March, and then in the two upcoming summers “Windows”, in July and August, the Turkish national team may have the chance to pair him up with Alperen Sengun.
On World Basketball Day, FIBA is proud to announce the Hall of Fame Class of 2026, paying tribute to legendary figures whose contributions have shaped the global game. A total of seven players and one coach are being recognized for their stellar individual contributions to the sport. Members of the Class of 2026 will be honored at an enshrinement ceremony on April 21 in Berlin. Hoops icons Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Sue Bird of USA headline the group of new inductees. Nowitzki, the MVP of both the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002 in Indianapolis and EuroBasket 2005 in Belgrade, represented his country in FIBA competitions for two decades. He started with the youth teams in 1995, before leading the senior team at numerous tournaments until 2015.
The launch date for the NBA Europe project is becoming clearer. FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis expressed his optimism that NBA Europe could start as soon as October 2027. "I believe [NBA Europe] will happen, and I have no doubt about it. We need, of course, the approval of the respective two boards of the NBA and the FIBA Central Board," Zagklis said during the media availability. "I do believe that October 2027 is a realistic target and that it is also an ideal way of closing the curtain in Doha with tremendous confidence about the FIFA Basketball World Cup and moving into a new project that shapes the European Club Basketball landscape in a positive way," he added.
Even though FIBA continues to work closely with the NBA on its expansion into Europe, current NBA players are not expected to participate in FIBA qualifiers during the regular season. "We do not expect a change in the way FIBA itself planned the qualifiers," FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis answered BasketNews' question in his media availability. "It was planned since the beginning that in the in-season windows, we will play with everyone who is licensed with a FIBA club around the world."
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However, Zagklis assured that FIBA is working to ensure players from eventual NBA Europe teams will be available for the qualifiers. "Yes, the discussion we've had is about availability for national team windows of qualifiers," Zagklis confirmed.
In the second installment of a podcast conversation featuring Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, the future Hall of Famers made it clear that neither plans to compete for the men's national team at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. "You already know my answer," James said. "I will be watching it." James will be 43 during the 2028 Olympics.
Curry will have just turned 40. He didn't slam the door shut quite like James, but Curry told the inquiring Steve Nash, serving as the "Mind the Game" co-host, that his participation is unlikely. "God willing, I still have the choice and physical option where I could impact the team," Curry said. "Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Highly doubt it."
The French basketball federation announced Friday that four-time NBA champion Tony Parker will take over as head coach of France’s under-17 men’s national team. The team has already qualified for next year’s FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul. The job will be Parker’s first head-coaching position, and the former San Antonio Spurs guard said his move to the sideline was inspired by the memory of his father, Tony Parker Sr., who died last month. Parker told ESPN’s Andscape that while sorting through his father’s belongings, he found a list of goals that Parker Sr. had written for his three sons. Among Parker Sr.’s wishes was the desire that his son Tony become a coach for the French national team and the NBA.