NBA Europe eyes Türkiye as 'cornerstone' for 2027 launch

NBA Europe and Middle East Managing Director George Aivazoglou told Anadolu that unprecedented investor interest from Türkiye has positioned Istanbul as a cornerstone market for the new continental league set to launch in October 2027. "Istanbul is a world-class city: sports-obsessed, culturally influential, and home to one of the largest and most engaged fanbases in Europe," Aivazoglou said, adding that if European basketball is to undergo a transformation, "Türkiye should be among the countries shaping that future." He noted that while the 16-month timeline remains ambitious, workstreams are progressing across London, Madrid and New York alongside FIBA partners to make the schedule a reality.

Economic model and EuroLeague negotiations

The NBA-FIBA venture will direct approximately 90% of league economics to participating clubs over the first decade, including hundreds of millions in guaranteed participation payments from day one, Aivazoglou stated. "Clubs are central to the economics of our proposal – in aggregate we expect them to receive around 90% of league economics over the first decade, including hundreds of millions in guaranteed participation payments from day one and that increase based on performance," he said. The league will operate as an authentically European competition built by Europeans and designed for European fans, with qualification pathways allowing any club to "write its own fairytale," he added, noting that officials met with EuroLeague leadership earlier this month and would reconvene next month. "We'll reconvene again next month, but we are also realistic and prepared to move forward with our partners and investors if those discussions don't materialize soon," Aivazoglou said.

Galatasaray assembly and Turkish clubs

Aivazoglou highlighted discussions with Galatasaray ahead of the club's June 27 General Assembly, which includes NBA Europe on its agenda, calling the Istanbul giant one of Europe's most historic sporting institutions. "One of the things that excites us most is Galatasaray's long-term vision for basketball," he said, noting that the club's outlook aligns closely with the NBA-FIBA vision and that the fact such a historic club is eager to explore the opportunity testifies to the excitement generated. He also praised Fenerbahçe's sustained excellence at the highest level of European basketball over more than a decade, acknowledging Beşiktaş and Anadolu Efes as part of Istanbul's deep sporting talent pool and stating that Fenerbahçe has made a major contribution to the development of basketball culture in Türkiye.