NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed discussions with Paris Saint-Germain about joining a proposed European basketball league set to launch in 2027. The talks, held during meetings in London and Berlin, highlight the NBA's interest in partnering with major football clubs to expand basketball in Europe. PSG's global brand and marketing expertise make it an attractive option, despite the presence of existing teams like Paris Basketball.
During a roundtable with media in London on Saturday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed interest in Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) as a potential franchise for the NBA's upcoming European league. "They play at the highest level of competition (in soccer), and they have the know-how to operate a basketball club at the highest level, if they’re interested. Yes, it’s a club we’re talking to," Silver said, according to reports from L’Équipe and AFP.
The league, announced last year in partnership with FIBA, aims to feature 16 teams, with 10 to 12 permanent sides from across Europe and the rest on a rotational basis. It will include both existing European teams and new entrants, targeting established and emerging basketball markets. Silver confirmed similar conversations with Real Madrid ahead of the NBA's Berlin Game between the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.
NBA Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum emphasized Paris's appeal. "Paris is a market we absolutely want to be in," he said. "There’s their ability to create a brand, a culture, their association with the Jordan brand, which is linked to basketball. We’re looking for the right partners for our project, and PSG brings a very interesting level of expertise in terms of marketing, promotion, and building a global brand."
PSG, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, could bring funding from Qatar and American companies. Silver noted the NBA's current 20% limit on sovereign wealth fund ownership in U.S. teams but suggested the European venture might allow more flexibility. "It’s ambitious, but it’s doable," he added.
France remains a basketball powerhouse, producing stars like San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. However, Paris already hosts Paris Basketball, founded in 2018 and competing in the EuroLeague, which has raised concerns about potential legal challenges if clubs switch leagues. NBA Europe and Middle East Managing Director George Aivazoglou acknowledged the city's dynamic scene: "Paris is a fascinating market. There is interest from existing players and from those not yet in the basketball ecosystem."
