Euroleague eager to defend its corner despite ongoing NBA Europe rumours

Euroleague basketball bosses remain committed to boosting the competition’s profile despite ongoing rumours about the creation of an NBA-banded European franchise league.

The NBA and FIBA, the sport's global governing body, announced ambitious plans to set up a new league earlier this year and speculation has run wild since then.

Basketball fans inclined towards betting have been keeping a close eye on developments given that the NBA has been tipped to lure some of Euroleague’s top clubs to their set-up.

As people who enjoy live craps free play platforms will recognise, betting on how things will unfold is extremely difficult to predict with accuracy.

However, for players who are adept at setting the point and betting accordingly, it is safe to say that the Euroleague is eager to stay relevant on the continental basketball scene.

To achieve their aims, the league has secured a new broadcast agreement with la chaine L’Equipe, which will bring selected EuroLeague games on a free-to-air basis to viewers in France.

The line-up includes regular season, play-off and Final Four fixtures throughout the 2025/26 season. Paris Basketball and Real Madrid are among the teams who will be featured.

"We are thrilled to welcome back la chaine L’Equipe as our broadcast partner in France," said Alex Ferrer Kristjansson, Euroleague Basketball’s Chief Marketing and Communication Officer.

“With a growing basketball community in France, providing our games free-to-air ensures that French fans can experience the passion, excitement and excellence that defines the EuroLeague."

The league has also agreed announced a four-year extension with global sportswear giant, adidas, who will continue to play a key role in developing the next generation of players.

As the naming partner of the adidas NextGen EuroLeague, the company is committed to helping basketball flourish across the continent.

The arrangement also features fan-friendly initiatives designed to bring basketball supporters closer to the game, such as the Rivalry Series.

This elevates a key EuroLeague fixture during each round by celebrating historic clashes and season-defining moments across social, digital, and broadcast platforms.

The sportswear giant will also continue their support of the EuroLeague Final Four, the showpiece event of European club basketball.

Senior Director of Sports Marketing Basketball at adidas, Cameron Mason, said, “At adidas, we believe the future of basketball belongs to the next generation.

“Our partnership with Euroleague allows us to not only invest in young athletes but also celebrate the culture and rivalries that make the game so powerful.

“Together, we are creating moments that inspire players and fans alike across Europe.”

While Eurobasket remains the pinnacle of basketball on the continent at the moment, it is unclear where it fits into NBA’s global vision for the sport.

The NBA League, which will feature 16 teams and is scheduled to launch in October 2027, will be a franchise-based competition based in cities across Europe.

That potentially makes it a threat to the Euroleague, which could lose some of its biggest clubs if the competition comes to fruition.

However, a resolution adopted in the European Parliament could scupper the NBA’s plans. This aims to ‘safeguard the European sports ecosystem against initiatives that seek to transfer its value outside the continent’.

Politicians urged the European Commission to monitor and address threats to the merit-based system currently favoured across sports in Europe.

The NBA’s plans to sell franchises for at least $500 million each to investors fly in the face of those principles and have not been welcomed by European politicians.

Despite the resistance, the momentum behind NBA Europe is building.