While the possible NBA expansion into Europe with a second league under the same umbrella has been met with scrutiny, it would undoubtedly bring millions of new fans into the fold.
Since January, the NBA has made public its intentions to launch a second league in Europe. While several questions need to be answered, the venture could end up being one of the most successful in league history.
Would this league serve as an international “feeder” league into the NBA? Would it rival existing European leagues? Would it be one of the first foreign leagues to implement a draft system? And, finally, which cities would even be considered?
While this is a multi-year plan that is yet to be fleshed out, it could tap into some markets that are starved for basketball.
In the last several decades, basketball has exploded in Europe. Stars like Tony Parker, Andrei Kirilenko, and Arvydas Sabonis served as ambassadors for the sport in Europe, and a new generation, led by Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, is taking the league by storm.
Recent top draft picks like Alexandre Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, and Noa Essengue, to name a few, played in Europe before coming stateside. Clearly, there is a market for basketball in Europe, and leagues are already established in France, Spain, Italy, and the Balkans.
Other countries, like Britain, the Netherlands, all of Scandinavia, and Austria, have leagues of their own, but they are far from elite, and the NBA would be able to quickly overshadow them. Bill Simmons recently revealed his wishlist of future NBA Europe cities, totaling a population of 40.6 million fans.
“I think this goes London, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Berlin, and a Greek team as your definite seven better in this,” Simmons listed on his self-titled podcast. “Maybe you could add Tony Parker’s French team. You could add the Istanbul team. You could add Manchester City. All of a sudden, I’m at 10.”
When the NBA initially announced its exploratory plans, it was met with skepticism that it would be unable to usurp existing teams, although Simmons’ list poses an interesting possibility.
England and Germany seem to have a fascination with American sports. The NFL is playing more overseas than ever before, to great success, and the NCAA is planning on Western Michigan and Michigan playing in Frankfurt.
The Netherlands, Czechia, Italy, and Great Britain were all represented at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, a distinctly American sport. Clearly, these sports are becoming more global, and London, especially, has the market for an NBA team with no direct rival.
If Adam Silver can build a foothold in the European market, possibly in England, the existing leagues might struggle to compete. However, if the most talented players on the continent decide to stay in their European leagues, it might be hard for the NBA to find success.
