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Türkiye’s Galatasaray has confirmed its participation in the upcoming NBA Europe project, a joint initiative by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) to establish a Europe-based professional basketball league by 2027.
The club's president, Dursun Ozbek, said that the club received official invitations to participate following meetings with Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, the head of FIBA, at the organization’s headquarters. He noted that the invitation was influenced by Galatasaray’s strong fanbase and ongoing plans to build a modern basketball arena.
"They said they would both support our arena project and that it is crucial for a club like Galatasaray to be part of this initiative. Therefore, yes—we will be in the NBA Europe project," Ozbek added.
Can Natan, Galatasaray’s board member responsible for basketball operations, said Friday that the club has maintained high-level discussions with NBA Europe executives for months and will soon enter formal negotiations.
"We are determined to be part of this project," Natan stated, adding that Galatasaray’s legacy as the club that introduced basketball to Türkiye, combined with its fan power, would add value to NBA Europe.
NBA Europe and Middle East General Manager George Aivazoglou also told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that the league is scheduled to launch in October 2027, with teams from major cities including London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Munich, Rome, Milan, and Athens. He confirmed that one team from Türkiye will join the lineup, but did not disclose which club.
Meanwhile, rival Turkish club Fenerbahce Beko, one of EuroLeague’s key partners with two championship titles, has also been linked to the project. General Manager Derya Yannier said the organization is involved in ongoing discussions, emphasizing that the club’s main priority is to ensure that European basketball evolves in a sustainable direction while underscoring the importance of its partnership with EuroLeague.
"We are part of every conversation and assessing all developments," Yannier noted, adding that the coming months will be decisive in shaping the future structure of European basketball.
The NBA’s Europe-based competition is expected to serve as a direct rival to Euroleague Basketball, which currently represents the continent’s top-tier professional league.
Discussions between FIBA and NBA executives suggest that the project aims to unify and expand basketball’s global commercial footprint by introducing American-style franchise systems to European markets.
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