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Q. Do you see an agreement between the NBA and the Euroleague possible for the creation of a new unified tournament? George Aivazoglou: I would say I see it the same way I have seen it for a while. The NBA has been very consistent that it wants to get involved with the Euroleague, and with all the European players, and bring them together as part of this new effort. I would say that the last few months have been very encouraging, with my good friend Chus Bueno. We have been in contact very often. We were together a few days ago in Geneva, and there is a very positive and very healthy exchange. From there, I would say, and Adam Silver and Mark Tatum also mentioned this, the NBA's decision is to move forward with this tournament with or without the Euroleague. But right now, there is a lot of focus, a lot of intention and energy going into those discussions, which will hopefully lead to a very positive outcome. But we still have a lot of work to do, that's the honest answer.
Real Madrid is poised to solidify its commitment to Euroleague Basketball as the organization prepares a transition from licensed clubs into permanent franchises, a strategic process the Spanish giant itself actively proposed and pushed to expedite. According to Eurohoops sources, failure to execute this 10-year agreement—the only offer available, as no one-year wildcard will be granted—would forfeit a €30 million share generated by expansion fees, costing the club its zero-cost franchise spot. While the Spanish giant retains the legal right to sign until the eleventh hour on June 30th, rejection carries severe consequences. If Los Blancos refuse the terms, they might compete in the Basketball Champions League for one season before the anticipated launch of NBA Europe at the top of the 2027–28 club schedule, absorbing a financial blow.
Besiktas Istanbul, the EuroCup runners-up, remain in contention for a possible spot in next season's EuroLeague. Although they lost the EuroCup final series to JL Bourg, which would have secured them a direct ticket to the EuroLeague, they are now waiting on developments involving AS Monaco. According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, if Monaco ultimately fails to secure its place due to financial issues, Besiktas has emerged as the leading alternative.
The NBA, EuroLeague and FIBA held what was described as “constructive discussions” Wednesday on a potential NBA Europe collaboration and, with momentum gaining, have scheduled a follow-up meeting for early July. Staged in Mies, Switzerland, Wednesday’s widely anticipated get-together was reportedly attended by NBA Europe Managing Director George Aivazoglou; EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno and President Dejan Bodiroga; and a FIBA delegation led by Secretary General Andreas Zagklis. The core issues were likely what a potential merger would look like and whether EuroLeague clubs -- which are about to become franchises -- would need to pay the full $500M-to $1B entry fee the NBA is seeking.
While EuroHoops reported there was no significant progress Wednesday, other sources said the exchange was positive and negotiations were picking up. In a joint statement, the three entities would only say: “Representatives of FIBA, NBA and Euroleague Basketball met today at the FIBA Headquarters in Mies, Switzerland, where they continued the constructive discussions on the future of European basketball and on potential opportunities for collaboration. A new meeting will take place in early July.”
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The EuroLeague has yet to finalize its list of participating teams for the 2026-27 season, sources tell BasketNews. According to BasketNews sources, the league's June 9 meeting concluded without a final decision on the composition of next season's 20-team competition. One of the key reasons behind the delay is Real Madrid's unresolved position regarding the new EuroLeague licensing structure. Sources indicate that the Spanish powerhouse is not yet in a position to formally commit to the proposed long-term agreement.
And what about Real Madrid? Chus Bueno: “They have not signed yet, but I keep saying, as I said from the beginning, that they will stay with us. I was optimistic from day one because I just think that it is the best option for them. As well as Fenerbahce and ASVEL did, hopefully Real Madrid will do it too. We have to respect that they are in the midst of elections, with voting happening this weekend. Hopefully, at the beginning of next week, we can re-engage in the conversation and try to land this as soon as possible, because we need to move on with the next season. We need to present an update on the competition to the board on June 9, and it would be great if Madrid is already on board”.
Real Madrid will compete in the EuroLeague next season. According to information confirmed by AS, the Spanish club will extend its commitment to Europe's top basketball competition, which is currently undergoing major reorganization as the NBA prepares to enter the European market in October 2027. The North American league has not shifted that planned launch date at all, although time is running short and none of Europe's major clubs have yet confirmed their participation. Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner, acknowledged that they are "working on a very tight timeline" but said that their "intention and expectation" is to continue according to the planned schedule.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum provided another update on the NBA Europe project, confirming the league's target launch timeline. According to Tatum, NBA Europe is expected to begin in October 2027. He also said the NBA is prepared to move forward with the project alongside FIBA and its partners if an agreement with EuroLeague is not reached, though discussions between the two sides remain ongoing. "We are building a system that will benefit the European clubs starting from October 2027," Tatum said, via Aris Barkas. "At the end of the month, the bids will be finalized, and after that, we will go through our process. There's no specific timeline for announcements; we have to finalize our negotiations with the clubs for a tipoff in October 2027," he added.
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Luka Doncic also hopes EuroLeague and NBA can find a solution to work with each other: "It would be best if they could find a common language and a way to cooperate. I spent great years in the Euroleague before going to America and that competition shaped my game in every sense. So I hope that this cooperation will bring good to both of us," he concluded.
Following Olympiacos' EuroLeague triumph on Sunday, Nikos Tsakos welcomed the trophy to his company's offices during a shipping conference. There, he also made a surprising remark about the possibility of a friendly game between Olympiacos and the Knicks. "We support the team of our hometown and the city where we grew up. I was born in Piraeus and moved to New York at 17," he said, via Sport24. "We are happy that the two teams are among the most historic in the world. Soon we will be able to do something together."
His son, Panagiotis Tsakos, went even further when discussing the idea. "It's something we are discussing with the team," he said regarding a potential exhibition game. "Either for the inauguration of the renewed stadium, or at Madison Square Garden. As you know, with half a million Greeks, we could fill the venue."
A nine-time NBA champion in the French capital? For a few weeks, Paris believed it. As confirmed to L'Équipe , Steve Kerr, the coach with five championship rings as a player (from 1996 to 1998 with Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, in 1999 and in 2003 with the San Antonio Spurs), then four as coach of Golden State (2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022), considered the prospect. Even though the hypothesis never turned into formal negotiation, with the Beirut native ultimately signing a two-year extension with the Warriors, the mere idea of imagining such a strong personality in the world of basketball, still active in the NBA, a key piece in one of its dynasties, is dizzying.