With the NBA Paris games approaching, commissioner Adam Silver discussed the possibility of European expansion on Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast, fueling speculation about the long-rumored move.
While not providing specific plans, Silver confirmed that the league has been exploring the idea of expanding into Europe and potentially creating a separate league there. Echoing a recent report by Eurohoops, Silver expressed the NBA’s interest in major European cities as potential markets.
“One of the things we’ve been discussing is whether, before adding NBA franchises in Europe, there’s an opportunity to create an independent league there,” Silver said. “This could leverage the enormous interest in basketball in major European capitals like Paris, London, Berlin, and Madrid — and other major cities that love basketball.”
However, Silver acknowledged the logistical challenges of expanding the NBA to Europe, particularly in terms of air travel and technology. He pointed out that while supersonic flights once made travel between the U.S. and Europe faster, such flights are no longer available. New supersonic jets are in development, though, which could improve travel times.
“Part of the challenge is air travel. When I was younger, there were supersonic flights from Kennedy to Charles de Gaulle in Paris, but we no longer have those. I’ve read about new supersonic jets in development, and if air travel between the U.S. and Europe became faster, it would make a European NBA division much easier,” Silver said.
Ultimately, the NBA has focused its attention on Europe, and Silver sees a potential European expansion as a distant possibility.
“One day, maybe it will be my successor,” Silver said. “I can definitely see a division of NBA teams in Europe and I think that will be an incredible thing for the game.”
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