The basketball community was taken by surprise when NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed plans for significant changes coming to the league. While rumors about potential new franchises amid league expansion discussions have circulated for some time, this announcement marks the first concrete indication that major shifts could be on the horizon.
Although the NBA boasts some of the best international players, the majority of stars come from the United States due to the league’s location. Now, Silver is signaling that it may be time to introduce a new basketball league, with a potential European expansion still in the early discussion stages.
Adam Silver’s Cryptically Worded Message Confuses NBA Fans
Public figures must be clear and concise in their statements, but Silver’s recent announcement left many fans frustrated due to a lack of clarity. While no miscommunication occurred on the NBA’s part, the vagueness of the details sparked confusion among supporters.
Senior NBA writer Mark J. Spears was one of the first to report the news, tweeting, “NBA commissioner Adam Silver announces that the NBA is now exploring a European league after Board of Governors meeting.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announces that the NBA is now exploring a European league after Board of Governors meeting.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) March 27, 2025
Spears added that discussions were still in the early stages, but a rough plan called for a 16-team league. This revelation raised more questions than answers, especially since the nature of the league, whether it would be an NBA expansion or a separate entity, was unclear.
Fans speculated that the league would be distinct from the NBA, as the plans involved creating franchises in well-known European cities and involving already established EuroLeague teams.
“‘It’s early days. Literally nothing has been agreed upon yet,’ Silver said. Silver added that he did want to honor the current FIBA and Euro format with 40-minute games and such,” reported Spears on X.
"It's early days. Literally nothing has been agreed upon yet," Silver said. Silver added that he did want to honor the current FIBA and Euro format with 40-minute games and such.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) March 27, 2025
With no official confirmation of its relationship to the NBA, fans who had previously complained about player travel and injury risks may have misunderstood the announcement.
Although the name of this potential European league remains unconfirmed, reports indicate that arena construction and scouting efforts will begin in 2026. While fans have grown accustomed to hearing ambitious plans without follow-up, this initiative could significantly increase the NBA’s global footprint and value.
The details are expected to be further discussed at the commissioner meets with the Board of Governors, hopefully ironing out more details so more information can be revealed to fans who are interested to learn more about the future of international basketball.