Euroleague CEO Chus Bueno Leaves Door Open for NBA Partnership Amid Market Fragmentation Warnings
Euroleague CEO Chus Bueno addresses NBA Europe expansion plans, warning that a fractured basketball market would spell disaster while keeping talks open.
POLICY WIRE — Milan and Madrid, Italy and Spain — Euroleague chief executive Chus Bueno has signaled that the premier club basketball competition remains receptive to discussions regarding a potential partnership with the National Basketball Association in Europe, even as he cautions against the dangers of a divided sports landscape.
While club owners previously rejected an initial collaboration proposal during their October 6 meeting at Lake Como, Bueno emphasized that ongoing dialogue with the NBA is still on the table provided any prospective agreement makes strategic sense for the organization.
The NBA has outlined ambitions for a separate European division that would feature 12 permanent franchises anchored in major metropolitan areas alongside four qualifying slots reserved for teams from existing competitions, with a targeted launch slated for October of next year.
Bueno warned that an uncoordinated entry by the North American league would severely fragment the regional market, characterizing such a move without proper alignment as a potential disaster for the sport across the continent.
Despite the looming possibility of a fierce competitive battle or a deeper collaborative arrangement, the Euroleague is concurrently advancing its own growth strategy.
The organization currently holds 12 binding franchise proposals and an €800 million expansion blueprint, with leadership eyeing an increase in league participation from 20 to 24 teams ahead of the 2027-28 season.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
