The NBA Europe is an unstoppable reality that is already altering the panorama of the baloncesto traditionaljust two years before the new continental competition sponsored by FIBA and under the umbrella of the best sports and marketing organization in world basketball is launched.
As reported this Thursday by the Greek portal Gazzetta.gr, Real Madrid and Barça are very close to informing the Euroleague of their decision to abandon their competition to head to the Basketball Champions League next season. in which Unicaja is the current two-time champion, as a preliminary step to access that NBA Europe that will start in October 2027.
FIBA
FIBA is aware of this movement, always according to the information from this Greek media, and considers it of special importance to strengthen the new continental basketball project, hand in hand with the NBA. It must be remembered that Unicaja was the first team to leave the Euroleague universe (in its case, from the Eurocup) to play the FIBA competition, in 2022. This past summer it was Alba from Berlin and the Spanish Dreamland Gran Canaria and Joventut who also decided to change direction in basketball on the Old Continent.
Days ago, Tony Parker, owner of French Asvel, officially announced that his team will also leave the Euroleague next summer to play in the 2026/2027 Basketball Champions League. A path that the Turkish Fenerbahce, current Euroleague champion, does not rule out as well, although in this case the final decision of the Ottoman club's rectors is not so clear.
NBA Europe
The new competition that will be launched in 2027 will have a semi-open structure. 16 teams will play it, 12 of them with a fixed place, while the remaining 4 will be achieved through a classification system linked to the BCLin addition to the main local leagues. The rest of the participants could arrive with large capitals such as Paris, London, Istanbul, Madridwith backing from investment funds and global brands.
Unicaja, pending the movements
While European basketball is revolutionized and with many changes in sight, Unicaja closely monitors all these movements, which may affect his career in the BCL. If only 4 places remain for the ACB teams in next season's Champions League, qualifying to play in the FIBA competition from the Endesa League may require being in the semifinals of the next play off for the League title. A goal that can turn achieving a ticket for the BCL into a challenge from now on.at least for the Spanish League teams.
