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During a recent interview on stage at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum held at the United Nations, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reiterated the possibility of NBA teams facing off against European teams in upcoming competitions, such as the NBA Cup or even the playoffs.
This isn’t the first time this prospect has been brought up as a potential future development, but on this occasion, Silver provided additional insights into the concept.
“You can envision teams from Europe and perhaps Africa taking part in that tournament,” Silver stated. “It’s conceivable that we might see top teams from other leagues entering our playoffs. Over time, especially in Europe, as air travel becomes more efficient, I’ve been reading about various advancements in aviation. For instance, a flight from New York to Los Angeles raises no concerns. If we had a few teams in Europe, why wouldn’t they be able to travel, face the Knicks or Nets, play several games in London or throughout Europe, and return home? I believe this is quite achievable in our league.”
He also emphasized that the primary challenge for the NBA in expanding to Europe or any other regions lies in the quality of arenas.
“From a business perspective, we haven’t observed the same level of arena development that’s prevalent in the United States,” he remarked during the forum. “There is a shortage of modern arenas in Europe. Take, for instance, the experience of those who attended the Olympics in Paris last summer; we hosted an excellent basketball competition at the Bercy Arena, which received some upgrades for the Olympics.
“However, from an industry standpoint, while the atmosphere is enjoyable for spectators watching the action, the facilities lack the suites, dining options, and space required for larger scale events. London has the O2 Arena, which represents significant progress in Europe, yet that venue is already aging, and the search for a new development is underway. Therefore, we see potential for growth in major European cities, provided that it includes a collaborative effort to develop arenas, multi-purpose facilities, and the surrounding opportunities.”
