The planned launch of a bespoke European NBA league has the potential to take basketball in the United Kingdom to the “next level”, says the New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby.
With the working title of NBA Europe, it is planned for launch in October 2027 and is aiming to have 16 European teams – with London and Manchester expected to be included.
The deadline for final bids to own franchises was in June and it is hoped the identities of teams that will feature will begin to be announced this year, with the NBA receiving bids between $500m (£372m) and $1bn (£745m) for each target host city.
Anunoby is the standout current player of UK origin in the NBA, having played a starring role in the Knicks’ first NBA title win since 1973.
Alongside the Portland Trail Blazers’ Jeremy Sochan, the Boston Celtics’ Amari Williams and Tobi Lawal, who is set to make his NBA debut this season for the Dallas Mavericks, Anunoby makes up part of the NBA’s UK quartet.
“I think it is amazing,” Anunoby told BBC Sport when asked about the NBA Europe plans.
“Basketball continues to grow, especially here in London and in Manchester.
“It’s exciting and I think it is going to take basketball to another level out here.”
Plans for the league’s launch in just over a year’s time remain “on track”, with the league set to start in tandem with the 2027-28 NBA season.
“Planning is going really well. We’ve had an amazing amount of demand in the last couple of months for NBA Europe, particularly as bidding closed,” said Laura Pinnell, vice-president and head of Consumer Group for the NBA across Europe and the Middle East.
“I would say the UK is one of the biggest opportunities for us out of the whole project.
“The growth opportunity is incredible and actually a London franchise, there is discussion about a Manchester franchise. All of which are great opportunities for fans and also, youth and participation.”
