Members of the Euro League rejected a formal offer from the NBA to merge and create a single NBA Europe operation, sources confirmed to ESPN. The decision was made after a rare meeting among the clubs on Lake Como in Italy. The NBA's plans for a 16-team league will proceed as early as the 2027-28 season, despite the rejection.
The NBA has received lucrative bids for expansion franchises across Europe. A significant number of the 13 permanent Euro League teams have expressed interest in joining NBA Europe, leading to a fractured situation. Negotiations are expected to continue, with the NBA proposing a model allowing teams to compete in national leagues on weekends and NBA Europe during the week.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing