Professional Sports leagues are trying to leave a footprint abroad. For example, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings are facing off in the NFL’s first-ever game in Ireland in a couple of weeks.
The NBA is also looking to get in on the action, with the implementation of a European basketball league. The recently licensed Great Britain Basketball league released the following statement:
“GBB League Ltd. (GBBL) will launch the first season of its new British basketball league in September 2027, coinciding with the anticipated first season of NBA Europe, and to provide sufficient time to work with the British Basketball Federation (BBF), the Home Country Associations and the British basketball community to prepare for the launch of a new elite academy for young players who will represent the future of the Great Britain National Team. Two NBA Europe teams – based in London and Manchester – are expected to compete in GBBL’s new league.”
Fans reacted to the news of the NBA adding two European teams on social media.
“Think champions league of basketball. Will b awesome. People have no idea how sick the environment of global basketball is. Just hope doesn’t hurt Euroleague , and that a non fiba league like Euroleague can participate in whatever inter league tourneys they do in the future,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“They should have started this in France, Greece, Serbia, and Slovenia,” someone else added.
“the winners of each should also play eachother. like the supercup,” one fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see the level of play for the NBA’s European teams.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.