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NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum has now explained why the league is pushing forward with the project and which markets it views as priorities. "If you're a fan, it's hard to follow professional basketball in Europe. It's easy to follow the NBA, but it's hard to follow European basketball," Tatum told Sportico. "Top tier at EuroLeague is missing some of the biggest commercial markets in Europe. There's no top-tier team in the UK at all, and the UK is the biggest market in Europe. There's no top-tier basketball team there: in London, in Manchester. "There's no permanent top-tier team in the top league there in Paris, in Berlin, in Rome," the executive went on to say. "So, they're missing the biggest commercial markets, which is why they are not able to commercialize basketball.
According to L’Équipe, Adam Silver is considering PSG the main option in Paris for the project. “They play at the highest level of competition (in soccer), and they have the know-how to operate a basketball club at the highest level, if they’re interested. Yes, it’s a club we’re talking to,” the NBA commissioner commented in a roundtable in London on Saturday.
Mark Tatum, Adam Silver’s second hand, emphasized the desire of being in Paris for NBA Europe. “Paris is a market we absolutely want to be in,” he said. “There’s their ability to create a brand, a culture, their association with the Jordan brand (Michael Jordan’s), which is linked to basketball. We’re looking for the right partners for our project, and PSG brings a very interesting level of expertise in terms of marketing, promotion, and building a global brand.”, Tatum commented.
The NBA will roll out the red carpet for a sales pitch to potential commercial partners of its proposed new European basketball league next month in London. Senior executives from the US sports behemoth will host the event at one of the capital’s swankiest hotels on 19 January, the day after the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic meet at the O2.
The invite, seen by City AM, promises “a select group of global leaders and brands across sports, entertainment, technology and culture”, whom the league will pitch to be foundational sponsors of NBA Europe. “During this special event, we’ll unveil our vision for European basketball and explore opportunities to innovate, collaborate and elevate the game together,” reads the invitation from NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, which has been seen by City AM.
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EA7 Emporio Armani Milan are still firmly in the mix for NBA Europe, and NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum made that clear while addressing the future of the project. As questions continue around which clubs and markets could be involved, Tatum confirmed that the Italian powerhouse remains part of the discussions and has not been ruled out.
"Yes, absolutely. I repeat, when I mentioned Milan, it was just an example. I recently discussed this with Ettore Messina as well, and we are on the same page. We are in talks with multiple groups," he said in an interview with Gazzetta.
With Stateside expansion finally coming into view, the league is also eyeing opportunities abroad. Many of the league’s current stars hail from Europe, and the NBA has partnered with FIBA for an international league. Silver went to Europe this summer with deputy commissioner Mark Tatum exploring cities and meeting with teams and politicians to discuss a new league on the continent with cities such as London, Paris, and Madrid being considered as potential markets.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum discussed the impact that the upcoming NBA Europe league could have on the G League during a recent Sports Business Journal conference. Tatum emphasized that the goal is not to replace the G League, noting that the league will continue to operate as it does today. "I don't think it's going to replace the G League," Tatum said. "I think there's a G League today, and there's a EuroLeague today."
He added that the overall structure and player makeup of the G League should largely remain unchanged. At the same time, he expects the new European league to attract significant international talent. "I think the composition and mix of the players in the G League will remain the same. And the European talent that is there today — I think we're going to attract a lot of that European talent as well," he noted. Tatum also suggested that the new league could reduce the growing trend of international players choosing the NCAA because of NIL money.
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European basketball is once again experiencing turmoil. The NBA 's project to launch a new competition in Europe has led to a new conflict, pitting FIBA and the North American League on one side, and the EuroLeague on the other. “The NBA understands the values of the European model of sport better than others. There’s a relationship built on a lot of trust and a lot of time. If you combine that with a passion for basketball, the numbers work out. The NBA is the best at generating business volume, and on top of that, they’re going to respect the values of basketball in Europe . It sounds very good to me,” commented Jorge Garbajosa . The president of FIBA Europe participated this Monday in the Europa Press Breakfast Briefings and assured that the international federation and the North American championship have a “perfect harmony”, and that is why they are going hand in hand in this new project that, according to Mark Tatum , deputy commissioner of the NBA , will start in 2027 with 16 teams, 12 with a fixed license and four coming from the FIBA Champions League and the national leagues.
Bidding for NBA Europe franchises is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum today describing an almost imminent overseas league that would launch in 2027 and potentially stage a preseason tournament against U.S. NBA teams in Year One.
Asked if there could be a “headwind” preventing the planned 2027 launch, Tatum brought up the “critical” importance of a salary cap system -- which he insinuated must be in place to ensure “competitive balance and financial long-term financial viability.” He also said, “We’ve got a little bit of work to do there…with the model, with our owners, with FIBA," acknowledging lawyers are still drawing up the league template. Bidding will begin in Q1 of 2026, “if we can get everything signed off on by our owners and by FIBA.”
Tatum also laid out countries that will likely host the 10-to-12 permanent NBA Europe franchises, identifying France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Greece. He also specifically singled out potential Euroleague clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and LDLC ASVEL (owned by former NBAer Tony Parker). “Almost like the Champions League of basketball in Europe,” Tatum said. “So brands like Real Madrid and Barca and Man City and PSG and AC Milan playing basketball. That’s pretty compelling. Not only premium live sports content that’s relevant in Europe, but it’s relevant globally. It’s relevant in Asia, it’s relevant in the United States and North America because some of the brands that we’re talking to have tremendous global followings.” He also mentioned there would likely be a bridge year before four other teams qualify for the league in Year 2, saying, “If you’re in Lithuania, if you’re in Serbia, if you’re in Croatia, other clubs in those markets, we want every team to have an opportunity to play into that top tier league.”