EuroLeague's 13 shareholders will meet on Monday in Barcelona to assess the league's future and its stance on the NBA's potential expansion into Europe. With the basketball landscape evolving, they seek full transparency on club commitments and possible alternatives.
EuroLeague teams are set for a pivotal internal meeting on Monday (April 7) in Barcelona, where the league's 13 shareholders will discuss the future of the competition and its stance on the NBA's explored expansion into Europe, sources tell BasketNews.
EuroLeague shareholders want full transparency on which clubs are fully committed to the league and which may be open to alternative opportunities, per sources.
As the NBA's European ambitions take shape, the EuroLeague must determine how to position itself in a rapidly shifting basketball landscape.
While the NBA has yet to publicly disclose specific teams involved in its European expansion plans, sources indicate that Real Madrid is viewed as a primary target.
The Spanish powerhouse is believed to have the strongest preference toward joining the NBA-backed project, and multiple sources suggest that if Real Madrid makes the leap, FC Barcelona could follow suit.
Beyond these two clubs, a handful of other EuroLeague teams from key markets are on the NBA's radar. However, the extent of their interest remains uncertain.
Tony Parker, the majority owner of ASVEL Villeurbanne, publicly stated his intentions to discuss possible participation in NBA Europe.
However, it remains unclear whether NBA Europe views them as a serious target for its exclusive group of franchises, sources tell BasketNews.
The EuroLeague's leadership, therefore, aims to establish a unified stance among its shareholders and determine how the competition should evolve in light of the NBA's looming presence.
While Monday's agenda includes multiple discussion points, the future of EuroLeague amid the NBA Europe project is expected to be the meeting's top priority.
Last week, the NBA, in partnership with FIBA, formally announced its intent to continue exploring the possibility of launching an NBA Europe league.
The proposed competition could feature up to 16 teams, many of which would be newly established franchises backed by major European football brands.
However, several EuroLeague clubs are also believed to be potential targets for the league's inaugural season.
Despite the NBA's growing interest in the European market, EuroLeague executives remain confident in the strength of their competition.
EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas has publicly reiterated that the league remains united – a belief reinforced by conversations with clubs, players, and coaches, who largely emphasize their commitment to building and strengthening the EuroLeague product rather than exploring an NBA-led alternative.
Who are the EuroLeague shareholders?
| Team |
| Anadolu Efes (Turkey) |
| Baskonia (Spain) |
| FC Barcelona (Spain) |
| Fenerbahce (Turkey) |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel) |
| Olympiacos Piraeus (Greece) |
| Olimpia Milan (Italy) |
| Panathinaikos Athens (Greece) |
| Real Madrid (Spain) |
| ASVEL Villeurbanne (France) |
| FC Bayern Munich (Germany) |
| Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania) |
| CSKA Moscow (Russia) |
