NBA announces two-tier European basketball league format

Summarised from City AM's report · Updated 8 Oct, 17:31 · Archive

The NBA plans a two-tier European basketball competition modelled on football's Champions League and Europa League, launching in 12 months.

The NBA has revealed plans for a two-tier European basketball competition launching within 12 months. The top tier will feature 16 teams, largely composed of new franchises in cities including London and Manchester alongside major clubs from the current European scene. Four spaces will be available for qualification via a standalone tournament and performance in the second tier.

The structure mirrors football's Champions League and Europa League model. George Aivazoglou, the NBA's managing director for Europe and the Middle East, described the vision as creating 'a two-tier ecosystem, pan-European at the top'. He explained that NBA Europe will be a semi-open league, with the second competition, the Basketball Champions League, fully open based on merit.

Discussions have been taking place with EuroLeague about integrating it into the new structure, though details of those talks remain unclear. The NBA aims to create a united pyramid based on the European sports model.

Read the report

• NBA Europe: Format revealed as uncertainty shrouds EuroLeague collaboration talksThe NBA wants its European basketball competition to replicate the dynamic between football’s Champions League and Europa League. Much of the rest of the detail surrounding a property slated for launch next year remains under wraps. A cloud may have fallen over talks between the NBA and EuroLeague but there is at least some welcome [...]City AM · 8 Oct, 15:22

In this story: NBA · EuroLeague · London · Manchester · George Aivazoglou

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem