The NBA’s first offer to EuroLeague has been turned down. The conversation, however, isn’t over.
EuroLeague’s club owners rejected the proposal during a meeting in Italy on Tuesday, according to SDNA. Some wanted to end talks altogether. Others wanted the NBA to return with better terms. The latter group prevailed, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports.
The reaction was hardly gentle. Olympiacos owner Giorgos Angelopoulos called the offer “unacceptable” and “colonialist,” per SDNA. Barcelona reportedly considered it a joke. Real Madrid, Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce favored giving negotiations more time, with Real Madrid seeking another 30 days for a revised proposal.
The NBA’s offer was built around EuroLeague keeping its current 13-club shareholder structure and pausing plans to expand to 24 teams. Per Gazzetta, the owners agreed to pause that expansion while talks continue, even though they rejected the financial terms presented Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the NBA is preparing its own 16-team European competition for 2027-28. That project is expected to proceed with or without EuroLeague.
So the NBA hasn’t won over the clubs. It also hasn’t been told to go away. The next offer ought to tell us how serious both sides are about working together.
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