Euroleague Rejects NBA Merger Offer as European League Plans Continue

Euroleague club owners gathered in Como, Italy, on October 5 to discuss decisions affecting the competition's future. Talks with the NBA and possible new teams were on the agenda, according to in.gr, which reported that Olympiacos and Panathinaikos were represented.

The NBA's offer went beyond cooperation between separate competitions. Sources told ESPN that it proposed merging Euroleague into a single NBA Europe operation.

On October 6, the shareholders rejected the proposal. NewsIt.gr reported a unanimous refusal, saying the offer did not meet shareholders' needs. CNN Brasil reported that the clubs nevertheless left room for further negotiations.

The rejection did not mean everyone opposed working with the NBA. On October 7, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, owner of Panathinaikos, said Europe's leading basketball clubs needed to find a way to cooperate with it, according to CNN Brasil.

Reports of a possible second round of talks followed that day. Proto Thema reported that Euroleague would return with a counterproposal, while NewsIt.gr also reported preparations for a proposal of its own. Those reports point to further negotiations, not an agreed deal.

On October 8, the NBA and FIBA issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to creating a European league despite the refusal, CNN Brasil reported. Their message also left the door open to cooperation with Euroleague, according to Ta Nea.

On October 9, NewsIt.gr reported claims from Serbia that Euroleague had begun contacts about acquiring the Adriatic League, also known as the ABA League. On October 10, Ettore Messina backed combining NBA Europe and Euroleague into a common European competition, according to in.gr.

The merger offer has been rejected, but the NBA's European project has not been withdrawn. L'Équipe reported that the NBA plans to launch a league in Europe in 2027. NewsIt.gr described the intended start as the 2027-2028 season.

The unresolved issue is whether that competition will operate with Euroleague or separately from it. The NBA and FIBA say they are moving forward, while reports of a Euroleague counterproposal suggest there is still scope for negotiation. The supplied coverage does not establish an agreed replacement offer or a completed partnership.

The next concrete step would be a Euroleague counterproposal and a renewed meeting with the NBA. The reports from Proto Thema and NewsIt.gr do not provide agreed terms or a confirmed timetable for those talks.

Euroleague's reported interest in the ABA League is another development to follow. NewsIt.gr described contacts reported in Serbia, not a completed acquisition. Whether those contacts advance would help clarify Euroleague's own plans while the NBA pursues its launch.