NBA Europe could be launched in 2027: Fiba Europe chief

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Greece fans in the stands during their Eurobasket semi-final match against Turkey on Sept 12.

PHOTO: REUTERS

PARIS – Fiba Europe president Jorge Garbajosa said on Sept 13 he believes the National Basketball Association (NBA) will launch its project to expand into Europe in 2027.

Garbajosa said at a news conference on the eve of the Eurobasket final in Riga that he fully expected a project backed by the US league would take shape in Europe, but that it was a complicated process to decide what form it should take.

“It is not easy to create a competition like the one we, and the NBA, want to create. It will take time but it will happen,” the Spaniard said.

“Some have talked about 2027 and I think that’s a good year, but honestly, the NBA is working on it,” he added.

Garbajosa, who played in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors, had announced in March the NBA was exploring the possibility of launching a new basketball league in Europe, in partnership with Fiba.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said talks are under way with Fiba but the Euroleague of European clubs, dominated by Greek, Turkish and Spanish clubs, has expressed strong opposition to an NBA expansion.

Germany face Turkey in the Eurobasket final on Sept 14 (Sept 15, Singapore time).

Meanwhile, a group led by National Hockey League side