"The NBA is targeting October 2027 as a potential launch date for the new Europe-based league that it and Fiba have been working to make happen, a league official said Friday. NBA Europe managing director George Aivagolozu, speaking at a conference in Milan, said the first season of the new league might be described as a semi-opening, indicating that not all of the slots in the planned 16-team league could be allocated at that time."
"The other four teams in the league could qualify by winning either Fiba's Basketball Champions League or through their performance in domestic leagues in Europe, Aivagolozu said. That possible element having teams qualify through the domestic league finishes is probably the most exciting part of the plan, because we all know that the domestic leagues today are not necessarily what they had been 20 or 30 years ago, Aivagolozu said."
October 2027 is targeted as a potential launch date for a new Europe-based professional basketball league jointly planned by the NBA and FIBA. The inaugural season may operate as a semi-opening, with not all slots in the planned 16-team league allocated initially. The model envisions 12 permanent franchises and four spots awarded by competition. Current target countries include Britain (London, Manchester), France (Paris, Lyon), Spain (Madrid, Barcelona), Italy (Rome, Milan), Germany (Munich, Berlin), Greece (Athens) and Turkey (Istanbul). Four teams could qualify via FIBA's Basketball Champions League or domestic league performance. Ongoing discussions involve clubs, investors and possible NBA–Europe matchups, with exhibition games planned in Berlin and London.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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