EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejunas has weighed in on the National Basketball Association’s proposed plans to establish a presence in Europe, expressing skepticism over the lack of concrete developments. In a recent statement, Motiejunas characterized the NBA’s repeated announcements about its intent to expand into the European market as a recurring narrative without substantive follow-through.
Describing the plans as “a little bit of a broken record of ‘we will announce later,'” Motiejunas signaled that the EuroLeague does not currently view the NBA’s European ambitions as an imminent concern. Despite rising speculation over the possibility of NBA-operated exhibitions, development leagues, or even regular-season games on the continent, specific details remain limited, and no formal timelines have been released by the NBA.
Motiejunas’ remarks point to the EuroLeague’s position as the primary competitive basketball league in Europe, with deep-rooted club affiliations and fan-followings across numerous countries. As such, the potential arrival of the NBA in the European sports ecosystem prompts questions about how existing structures and markets might be affected. However, Motiejunas’ comments suggest that European basketball leaders remain confident in the strength and appeal of their product.
This is not the first time the NBA has explored international expansion. The league has hosted preseason and regular-season games in European cities in the past, and has invested in global development through initiatives like the Basketball Without Borders program. Yet, a full-scale league or permanent presence in Europe has yet to materialize.
The EuroLeague, which operates under a different model than the NBA—including a system of licensing and wild card entries rather than a closed franchise system—has grown in popularity in recent years, drawing talented players and building significant fan engagement.
As basketball continues to gain popularity worldwide, the dialogue between North American and European stakeholders will likely evolve. For now, Motiejunas and the EuroLeague appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach regarding any formal NBA expansion into Europe.
