A report by Front Office Sports on Thursday highlights growing confidence in the NBA’s plans to launch “NBA Europe” as early as 2027. Alex Lasry, CEO of the NY/NJ 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Committee, stated that the impact of this expansion could mirror the global structure of professional soccer.
Lasry, the son of the former Milwaukee Bucks owner, believes that a European division would provide a new premier destination for professional players and increase international competition. This follows the successful model of NBA Africa, suggesting a future where NBA Asia and other regional leagues form a truly global basketball ecosystem.
Commissioner Adam Silver has long hinted at this move, and with the 2026 World Cup serving as a catalyst for multi-sport infrastructure development, the timeline for a European league is becoming clearer. This shift would fundamentally change the career paths of top-tier prospects who currently look primarily to the US.
* Alex Lasry: “I think I wouldn’t be shocked to see if in five, 10 years the NBA kind of expanded into something like that… where NBA Europe is now a premier place to play.”
* Front Office Sports: “Lasry… is currently the CEO of the New York/New Jersey Host Committee for the 2026 FIFA World Cup… he is bullish on Adam Silver’s prospective European venture.”
Echotitbits take:
This is the “Champions League-ification” of basketball. By establishing a formal European wing, the NBA is protecting its talent pipeline and capturing a market that currently belongs to EuroLeague. For fans, this means higher-quality games at better time zones for EMEA residents. The NBA is no longer a US league; it’s a global empire.
Source: Front Office Sports — https://frontofficesports.com/alex-lasry-nba-europe-soccer-like-impact-basketball/ March 5, 2026
Photo Credit: Front Office Sports:
