NBA house owners will convene this week to debate plans to determine a brand new European sister league, based on a report from Sportico.
The proposed league is reportedly anticipated to include eight to 10 franchises, together with 4 of the highest groups from the EuroLeague. The NBA would then maintain bidding for franchises in Euro capitals resembling London or Paris, the place it expects groups to be bought for over $500M.
If the plan involves fruition, a franchise in a market like London or Paris may very well be a perfect retirement house for ageing NBA stars. The likes of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Paul George, Bradley Beal and Khris Middleton are unlikely to obtain one other maximum-level contract earlier than driving off into the sundown. However they might maximize their earnings by being the faces of latest European franchises in want of star energy.
Traditionally, solely ex-NBA position gamers head to the European circuit to proceed their professional careers, excluding uncommon instances like Kemba Walker. The proposed new league immediately adjustments that dynamic, provided that the NBA and its key stakeholders would again it.
A brand new solution to lengthen careers?
Even perennially-injured stars like Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid may gain advantage from the league. They’d presumably have lighter workloads and play in opposition to weaker competitors on a nightly foundation, probably prolonging their careers within the course of.
After all, that is all purely conjecture.
If the league consists of 4 EuroLeague squads, energetic NBA gamers may seemingly be allowed to take part as properly, probably pulling double obligation after wrapping up their time within the U.S. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic are already accustomed to such a schedule, representing their international locations at FIBA-based occasions in latest summers.
The chatter of an NBA-owned European league first gained steam throughout final yr’s Paris Olympics when commissioner Adam Silver met with officers from FIBA and EuroLeague to debate methods for the NBA to optimize the Euro market. The NBA has generated just a few hundred million {dollars} yearly from Europe lately, however the league believes it’s simply scratching the floor of the alternatives that await.
The NBA first performed an exhibition sport in Europe in 1984. Since 1991, it has hosted at the very least one preseason or regular-season sport almost yearly. Most not too long ago, the Pacers visited Paris to play the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs in back-to-back video games earlier this yr.
