Some markets for NBA Europe league receive $1B bids, sources say

The NBA has received finalized bids from more than 20 groups vying to participate in NBA Europe, a European basketball league it plans to launch in October 2027, sources familiar with the negotiations told ESPN.

The bidding process to become one of NBA Europe's 12 permanent franchises opened in February for prospective teams in major markets, including London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome and Istanbul; Barcelona, Spain; Manchester, England; Lyon, France; and Athens, Greece. Viable groups submitted bids in all 12 target cities, sources said, with multiple bids topping $1 billion in select markets.