Following the controversy surrounding the attempted formation of a European Super League in soccer, a similar debate is brewing in the world of basketball. A proposed “NBA Europe” league is facing scrutiny from stakeholders across the continent, including La Liga president Javier Tebas, who voiced concerns that the new venture threatens the established European sports model. A newly released economic impact report from the Applied Economics Institute in Spain details potential financial repercussions and raises questions about the future of the sport’s structure in Europe.
The president of Spain’s La Liga soccer league, Javier Tebas, voiced strong criticism of a proposed new European basketball league during a recent sports conference.
“It turns out that the second most popular sport in Europe – basketball – is also creating a Super League equivalent, similar to the one that threatened European soccer in 2021,” Tebas stated.
“This goes against the European sports model,” he added.
On the same day, the Applied Economics Institute in Spain released a report analyzing the potential impact of the proposed “NBA Europe” league on European basketball. The report raises concerns about the economic consequences of shifting power away from existing European structures.
Currently, the plan calls for a 16-team league comprised of 12 permanent members and four teams that rotate annually based on performance in domestic championships and the FIBA Champions League.
Several EuroLeague powerhouses – including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and ASVEL Villeurbanne – are reportedly considering joining the new league, which is tentatively scheduled to launch in 2027. This potential shift in the landscape of European basketball is prompting debate about the future of the sport and its economic stability.
According to the Institute’s analysis, the project carries a risk of “profit repatriation,” where a significant portion of the value created by European basketball would be diverted to entities based outside the European Union. “Europe would bear the burden of infrastructure, talent, and fan base development, while a substantial share of the returns would leave this economic circuit,” the report states.
The concerns echo recent sentiments expressed by the European Parliament, which issued a resolution last month discouraging projects like “NBA Europe.” The newly released report lends further support to that position.
In contrast, the report highlights the EuroLeague model, despite its partial privatization, as generating tangible returns within Europe, particularly in Spain. The participation of clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia Basket, and Baskonia not only creates jobs but also boosts tourism, private investment, and Spain’s international standing in European basketball. This contributes to a robust national ecosystem and a more equitable distribution of value.
Spain has historically been the country with the most teams in the EuroLeague, projecting an image of competitiveness and institutional diversity. A shift to the “NBA Europe” franchise-based model, the report argues, would diminish Spain’s influence, concentrating power in just two major soccer clubs and marginalizing basketball communities in other regions. This could exacerbate disparities between clubs and undermine the competitive integrity and social legitimacy of the sport.
The report emphasizes that the primary beneficiaries would likely be a select few clubs or organizations, with taxpayers in participating countries seeing limited real benefits. In fact, it suggests that the project could even lead to reduced tax revenues.
The proposed league also threatens to disrupt the established hierarchy of basketball, according to the analysis. “At the macroeconomic level, the loss of fiscal control in the new league would mean a drop in tax revenue, a decrease in local investment, and increased vulnerability to decisions made by corporations based abroad,” the report explains. “For countries like Spain, whose sports model seeks to balance economic viability with social value, this would be a step backward.”
The report further suggests that “NBA Europe” could negatively impact domestic leagues, as clubs participating in the new venture might increasingly prioritize it over their national league commitments. “Beyond the fiscal implications, the NBA structure would negatively affect local leagues. The potential withdrawal of elite clubs from the local league schedule, or their prioritization of the ‘NBA Europe’ championship, would reduce the value of television broadcasts, game attendance, and sponsor visibility. In short, it would compromise the entire remaining sports ecosystem,” the report states.
“The centrifugal principle contradicts the European sports model, based on open access, sporting merit, and financial solidarity. As the European Parliament notes in its resolution, the public character of sport must be protected from purely commercial models aimed at maximizing profits for a few participants. The logic of a soccer Super League in basketball would fracture the environment and weaken the authority of European regulatory bodies.”
Despite its challenges, such as a lack of democratic decision-making and the economic instability of some clubs, the EuroLeague model allows value to remain within Europe and be distributed among a wider range of stakeholders. In contrast, the “NBA Europe” model would concentrate profits in foreign corporations. This analysis comes as the sport continues to grow in popularity and investment across the continent.
“Currently, the EuroLeague is experiencing a period of growth, with increases in viewership, revenue, and fan engagement. Over the past two seasons, total revenue has grown by 45%, and television viewership has increased by 30% over the past five years. This growth has been driven by increased revenue from game-day activities – such as ticket, food, and accommodation sales – and sponsor contributions, which are directly controlled by the clubs themselves. All this value is created around the EuroLeague and allows for the dynamic expansion of European sport as a whole.”
Modern sports policy, the report concludes, should focus not only on attracting foreign investment but also on ensuring that it generates additional benefits for local communities. “As the economic literature on cultural and sports industries reminds us, the sustainability of a system depends on its ability to reconcile profitability with the local community’s resistance to change. In this sense, the EuroLeague model can be reformed and modernized, but its logic and roots in European sport must be preserved.”
