NBA plans to launch European league 'in the next two years'
Tue Oct 21 11:09pm ET
Field Level Media
The NBA plans to finalize franchise fees in the next few months with a goal of launching NBA Europe "in the next two years," the league's deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said Tuesday.
Speaking with international media, Tatum said, "Yes, our goal is to launch in the next two years. Obviously, that's pending NBA and FIBA Board approval."
According to the Sports Business Journal, the NBA is eyeing franchise fees in the range of $500 million to $1 billion and has hired JP Morgan and The Raine Group to "refine" the business plan.
"In the near, immediate future we're going to start engaging in a meaningful way with potential investors in the league," Tatum said Tuesday, per TalkSport.com. "We're sort of going to the next step. And I think over the next, call it eight weeks or so, we'll have a really good sense of where we are in terms of the level of interest."
The SBJ reported that while it's considered unlikely, the NBA could walk away from the project if it does not receive the market value it believes is warranted. In the meantime, the business template includes determining potential team locations.
"We think that this league will include a combination of existing clubs, potential new clubs that don't exist today, and maybe there's some football clubs who don't have a basketball team but who want to invest in a basketball team," Tatum said.
"In phase one, our initial plan is to go 10 to 12 cities. Primarily (the) UK, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, maybe Turkey, maybe Greece for franchises."
Tatum said the NBA would run the "top-tier" league.
"Our plan would be for FIBA's Basketball Champions League to be the second-tier division," he said. "And then at the launch of this league, there will be four open spots that teams across the continent would qualify for on an annual basis through a transparent merit-based process, either by winning their respective domestic leagues and then playing into the Basketball Champions League, or you can create one big play-in tournament of the domestic champions.
"Down the road, you could see things like having the winners or the top-two finishers in the European League come enter into the NBA Cup and get injected to the NBA Cup.
"And then really down the road, once supersonic travel happens, you could see a division of the NBA in Europe."
London will host its 10th regular-season NBA game when the Memphis Grizzlies play the Orlando Magic on Jan. 18, 2026. There are plans for the league to play games in Manchester, England, and Paris in 2027, and in Berlin and Paris in 2028.
"There are no top-tier teams in the UK," Tatum said, per TalkSport.com. "We think that there has to be, because we know that the demand --that the number of fans in the UK, that the size of the market -- that we have to service those fans."
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Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (knee) has been ruled out for the team's season opener on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. Williams is still recovering from knee surgery, and there isn't a specific date set for his return. However, considering it's been 11 months since Williams injured his right knee, his comeback could be close. Josh Green (shoulder) also won't be available for the start of the season, which may give rookie Kon Knueppel a large workload right off the bat. The injuries could also open up additional minutes for Tidjane Salaun and Tre Mann.
Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum (knee) won't suit up for Wednesday's contest against the San Antonio Spurs. This isn't surprising, as Exum has been dealing with a right knee problem throughout the preseason. Health issues also sidelined him for nearly the entire 2024-25 campaign, as Exum participated in only 20 games. He averaged 8.7 points and 2.8 assists. Brandon Williams and Max Christie are expected to handle the backup guard minutes in Wednesday's game. Although Williams has a higher fantasy ceiling, there may not be enough minutes available for either player to make a significant impact.
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (conditioning) won't play in Wednesday's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams III practiced fully on Monday but needs to improve his conditioning before being ready for action. With Deandre Ayton now in L.A., Williams IIIhas a chance to make a bigger impact with the Trail Blazers. But he needs to be available for his team, and that's always been an issue with Williams III. On Wednesday night, Yang Hansen and Duop Reath will serve as backups for starting center Donovan Clingan.
San Antonio Spurs forward/center Kelly Olynyk (heel) will not be in the lineup for Wednesday's season-opening contest against the Dallas Mavericks. The veteran big man continues to work his way back from his April heel surgery. San Antonio also won't have the services of Jeremy Sochan (wrist) on Tuesday night, which could push Luke Kornet into a prominent role. The injury situation may also help Keldon Johnson pick up additional work. Olynyk's next chance to make his Spurs debut will be on Friday against his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans. However, it's unclear how far along he is in his rehab.
Utah Jazz forward Ace Bailey (illness) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. Bailey missed the end of the preseason because of a knee issue and is now dealing with an illness, which may delay his NBA debut. If he can't play against the Clippers, Utah will need Brice Sensabaugh to step up. Additionally, players like Cody Williams and Svi Mykhailiuk may see increased playing time. Sensabaugh picked up a lot of momentum at the end of 2024-25, averaging 14.1 points with red-hot 47.5 percent three-point shooting after the All-Star break.
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier (hamstring) won't be in action for at least one week at the start of the season. He's dealing with a hamstring issue, and the team announced that Collier will be re-evaluated in one week. Collier's absence will improve the fantasy prospects of Keyonte George, who was bumped to the bench last season. It's now likely that he will rejoin the starting unit. Rookie Walter Clayton Jr. may also benefit, along with veteran Svi Mykhailiuk, who impressed in last week's preseason finale with 15 points and four assists.
Lakers' G Luka Doncic recorded a double-double, scoring 43 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a 109-119 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
According to NBA reporter Jovan Buha, Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent will start in Tuesday's opener versus the Golden State Warriors. LeBron James (back) is out, so head coach JJ Redick will roll with Vincent, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton to kick off the 2025 campaign. Of course, that is always subject to change, and it likely will. For now, the 29-year-old will get some work with the first-five. Vincent wasn't consistently showcased in Redick's rotation last season, although he at least averaged 8.5 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 11 starts. Unfortunately, that type of production from Vincent won't do much for fantasy managers. However, there is a value opportunity there for DFS participants.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (ankle) will play on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran was listed on the injury report due to a sprained left ankle. While he carried a probable designation, suggesting he would play all along, fantasy managers are happy to see the official update. Butler began last season with the Miami Heat before being traded to the Dubs ahead of the deadline. He played well in his 55 appearances, averaging 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. His percentages from deep have decreased over the years. However, the 36-year-old is still a must-start in any fantasy format. With Butler available, Al Horford and Buddy Hield will likely see fewer minutes.
Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (ankle) is officially active for Tuesday's game versus the Los Angeles Lakers. It was an eventful offseason for Kuminga, with the 23-year-old agreeing to a two-year, $48.5 million contract after months of negotiations. While it's unknown how much longer he'll stay in Golden State once he's eligible to be traded, it appears he'll at least start his fifth season as a member of the starting lineup. Of course, that may change as the year progresses. For now, Kuminga is a must-start, although his weak shooting percentages from last season are something category managers would love to see improve.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (back) is questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Trail Blazers. The 24-year-old is battling back spasms. Although his injury designation suggests he has a chance of suiting up, fantasy managers should monitor things throughout the day on Monday. The 24-year-old averaged a career-high 27.6 points last season, adding 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals. He's also logged 79 games in each of the last three seasons, so it would be surprising to not see him out there for the opener. If Edwards isn't available, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Julius Randle should all benefit from a production standpoint. The same can be said for Naz Reid and Mike Conley, who would be in line for more work.
San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) won't suit up for Wednesday's season opener against the Dallas Mavericks. Fox has been dealing with a right hamstring strain since late September and also underwent surgery on his left pinkie finger back in March. The veteran guard will likely return to the floor in early November if he continues to progress without setbacks. With Fox sidelined to start the season, rookie Dylan Harper could see increased playing time, while Stephon Castle should have plenty of scoring opportunities in the backcourt.
New Orleans Pelicans centerKevon Looney (knee) won't be available to suit up for the team's season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Looney has been out of action due to a proximal tibiofibular ligament sprain in his left knee and could be out for two more weeks. The 29-year-old had been working through knee pain, and he will likely have to wait until November to make his debut with his new team. Looney agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Pelicans in June after 10 seasons with the Warriors. While he is sidelined, rookie big manDerik Queencould see an expanded role backing up projected starting center,Yves Missi.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guardDarius Garland(toe) is unavailable for Wednesday's season opener against the New York Knicks. Garland underwent offseason toe surgery and is close to returning, but he will be sidelined for at least the season opener. While the 25-year-old is unavailable, Lonzo Ball will likely get the nod to start, while Donovan Mitchell will likely see an abundant amount of scoring opportunities. Mitchell posted averages of 29.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists in games without Garland in Cleveland.
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (ankle) is listed as doubtful ahead of Wednesday's game against the Spurs. Head coach Jason Kidd indicated on Tuesday morning that Gafford was questionable. However, his designation on the injury reports suggests he won't be out there for the opener. With Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II likely to see most of the work underneath the rim, there's a chance P.J. Washington also spends time at the four and five spots throughout the contest. If so, Naji Marshall could receive a bump in minutes. Still, Marshall has been a streaky scorer during his career, making him a risky fantasy option for managers in any format.
Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (ankle) is questionable for Wednesday's meeting in Orlando. The 21-year-old averaged 9.3 points, 7.4 boards, and 1.1 blocks last season and is projected to take a leap in his sophomore campaign. However, he rolled his ankle at the end of Tuesday's practice, putting his availability for the opener in jeopardy. With an 82-game schedule on tap, head coach Erik Spoelstra could play it safe by giving him the night off. If that's the case, Bam Adebayo may slide over to the five spot, with Nikola Jovic or Andrew Wiggins in line to enter the starting lineup.
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (ankle) is listed as probable heading into Wednesday's opener against the Cavs. The injury report doesn't look good for New York, with the Knicks already ruling out Mitchell Robinson (ankle) and Josh Hart (back). To make matters worse, Karl-Anthony Towns (quadriceps) is questionable. Anunoby is coming off a fantastic season, averaging a career-high 18.0 points with 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals. If he's available, he's certainly a must-start in any fantasy format. The 28-year-old would also be in line to smash DFS projections, even more so if KAT can't suit up. However, if Anunoby suffers a setback along the way and can't get out there on Wednesday, Guerschon Yabusele and Miles McBride could see a bump in production.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (rest) will be unavailable for Wednesday's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 27-year-old big man is expected to be load-managed throughout the regular season after missing most of the 2024-25 campaign recovering from two ankle surgeries. When active, Robinson averaged 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game across 17 contests. Fantasy managers should approach with caution, as he has appeared in just 48 total games over the past two regular seasons.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (quadriceps) is questionable for Wednesday's opener versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. It's been known KAT is dealing with this issue, although it's unknown if it will keep him out for the first game of the 2025 campaign. Mitchell Robinson (ankle) has already been ruled out, so another absence at the five spot wouldn't be an ideal scenario for head coach Mike Brown in his debut with the team. At any rate, if Towns can't get on the floor, Guerschon Yabusele, who averaged 11.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in 43 starts for the Sixers last season, would be worth considering for streaming purposes. He will be in line for even more work if OG Anunoby (ankle), who is probable, suffers a setback heading into opening tip.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, New York Knicks forwardJosh Hart(back) will be sidelined for Wednesday's season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hart continues to deal with a lingering back issue that kept him sidelined for most of the preseason. Mitchell Robinson (rest) has also been ruled out for the contest. New York will likely rely uponJordan Clarkson for extra scoring, whileMiles McBrideandGuerschon Yabuselecould also see extra minutes on the floor. Hart is coming off a solid 2024-25 campaign, posting averages of 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, making him a valuable fantasy option once he is healthy.
