EuroLeague shareholders reject the NBA's first Europe offer and plan 24 teams: what it changes for NBA Europe

By McKinley Malbrough III, J.D., MS-HRM · Certified WNBA player agent · Former certified NBA agent

Published October 31, 2026. Last updated October 31, 2026.

This post is dated October 31, 2026. It adds the vote to the explainer on how NBA Europe would work and the planning advice in the guide to what NBA Europe means for American players and agents. The EuroLeague's club spending rules are in the post on EuroLeague 2026-27 remuneration levels.

What did EuroLeague shareholders decide about the NBA's offer?

They reportedly turned down the NBA's initial proposal to merge the EuroLeague with NBA Europe, per Hoops Rumors, which cites Eurohoops. The owners met on a Tuesday in early October in Italy, per Hoops Rumors. ESPN's preview of the meeting put it in Milan on October 5, per ESPN, so the reports differ on the day.

The EuroLeague's own statement did not mention the offer, per Hoops Rumors. Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the offer depended on the EuroLeague keeping its current structure and not expanding, per Hoops Rumors. Shareholders stay open to further talks, per the same report.

What is the EuroLeague doing instead?

It plans to convert its 13 current shareholders into permanent franchises and expand from 20 to 24 teams for 2027-28, per Hoops Rumors. A permanent franchise keeps its place without having to earn it each year, which is what ESPN calls a closed franchise system. ESPN's preview reported 21 permanent franchises for 2027-28 and eight new franchises expected to be approved, per ESPN.

The 21 would equal the 13 shareholders plus eight new franchises, an inference neither report states. EuroLeague clubs also approved a 10-year business plan that targets 24 teams, per The Sports Encounter, a secondary source that summarizes the league's own targets. EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno has warned that two leagues would split value across institutions, media rights and attendance, per ESPN.

What has the NBA said since the vote?

The NBA says it will go ahead with or without the EuroLeague, tentatively in fall 2027, per Hoops Rumors. Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier that the NBA planned to go forward whatever the EuroLeague decided, per NBA.com, in a page updated July 15, 2026.

On October 20, the first day of the NBA season, Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said talks with prospective founding clubs were nearing completion, per The Sports Encounter. No club deals had been announced as of that date, per the same report. The NBA's plan is 16 teams, with 12 permanent franchises and four annual qualifiers, per NBA.com.

Which clubs could move to NBA Europe, and does a launch still look possible?

At least six EuroLeague teams are reportedly considering NBA Europe, per Hoops Rumors. More than 20 clubs and groups bid for the 12 permanent franchises, including current EuroLeague teams with exit clauses, per Sportico. The exit clauses would let those clubs leave for the NBA's new league.

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One executive said a few clubs oppose NBA Europe while most disliked this specific proposal, per Hoops Rumors. A source from a team expected to join NBA Europe called an October 2027 launch impossible without a merger, per Hoops Rumors. That is a single anonymous source, so it is a warning sign and not a forecast.

What should players and agents watch next?

• Club announcements. Tatum said the NBA expects to announce participating franchises soon, per The Sports Encounter.
• Board approval. The NBA plans to take bids to its Board of Governors to ratify partners, per Sportico.
• The EuroLeague 2027-28 field. Whether it reaches 24 teams, and which clubs stay.
• Roster rules and pay. No American-player limit or salary scale has been published in the sources reviewed.
• The players' union. The NBPA has said it wants a revenue share, and the collective bargaining agreement can be opted out of in October 2028, per Newsweek.

Players weighing an offer should read the contract basics in the overseas contracts guide and the paperwork steps in the FIBA letter of clearance guide.