October 4, 2025 — NBA commissioner Adam Silver told the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum that clubs based on other continents could one day enter official league competition, including the in-season NBA Cup and even the playoffs.
“You could imagine teams from Europe, potentially Africa, competing in the NBA Cup,” Silver said during the New York event. He added that as commercial air travel improves, four Europe-based franchises could feasibly schedule clusters of games against U.S. teams before returning home. “There’s no reason that if we had four teams in Europe, you couldn’t travel, play the Knicks or Nets, travel to London, play three or four times in Europe, and come back.”
NBA Europe outlines expansion goals
In a separate interview with The Athletic, NBA Europe and Middle East managing director George Aivazoglou described three potential categories of clubs for a proposed European league and said the broader aim is to elevate basketball’s regional profile. “I hope we establish European basketball at the top, almost on par in terms of interest with European football,” the Greek executive noted. Aivazoglou emphasized creating an “innovative product” that draws global audiences while reinvesting new revenue into local development. Additional excerpts were shared by Eurohoops.
Mexican forward Karim Lopez targets 2026 lottery
ESPN.com profiled 6-foot-9 Karim Lopez, a projected 2026 lottery pick who plays for the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL and could become the first Mexican selected in the NBA’s first round. The 18-year-old hopes to share the court with his idol. “I hope LeBron James is still there if I get to the NBA,” Lopez told ESPN. “I’m not there yet; I have to keep working.”
Shake Milton adjusts to Partizan Belgrade
After seven NBA seasons, 29-year-old guard Shake Milton signed a two-year contract with Serbian powerhouse Partizan Belgrade this summer. He acknowledged to Eurohoops that the transition has been challenging. “I’ve been playing one way for seven years, so now I have to adapt,” Milton said. “It’s a challenge, but I’m excited… The fun part is knowing I can get even better than I’ve been.”
Source: HoopsRumors
