On Monday night, Legion Hoops posted on X (formerly Twitter) that talks surrounding the potential FIBA-NBA crossover league or annual tournament are “ramping up,” per Tim Reynolds of AP Sports. There’s a calculated risk behind the potential crossover league and annual tournament. But there are also arguable positives, as the annual tournament can learn three things from the UEFA Champions League.
Basketball’s popularity in Europe has exponentially grown in recent years. The sport’s growth across the pond eventually led to the NBA’s reported talks with the FIBA about implementing the crossover league and annual tournament.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who was appointed in 2014, has prioritized expanding the NBA’s global reach. Silver has increased the number of international preseason and regular season games in Africa, China, India, etc., along with the number of basketball-related initiatives overseas.
An Overview of a FIBA-NBA Crossover League
The FIBA is reportedly talking to the NBA about a potential FIBA-NBA crossover league and annual tournament, according to Legion Hoops. FIBA basketball is different from NBA basketball, as FIBA basketballs are smaller and harder to use by most, if not all, of the NBA’s players.
Previously, the NBA finalized a new $76 billion media rights deal with The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, and Amazon, effective during the 2025-26 NBA season. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that the deal has allowed the league to engage in “much more serious” conversations with FIBA. Silver recently said that the NBA’s talks with FIBA are still in the “early stages.”
Pros of a Crossover League
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been talking to FIBA executives about the potential FIBA-NBA crossover league at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. Silver’s talks with FIBA executives are still early, but the pros can outweigh the cons.
According to SportsKeeda, Silver said, “We certainly haven’t made any definitive decisions … I continue to believe there’s an enormous opportunity here. It’s not something where we’ll transform a league structure in the short term. But I think that there’s an appetite among our team owners for additional investment in global basketball.”
Silver’s statement was encouraging, as Europe’s top basketball teams would compete against North America’s NBA teams. European countries, especially France, have seen a substantial increase in NBA players. France is the host country of the 2024 Summer Olympics, which was a far cry from the NBA’s first preseason game in the Parisian country with zero French big men.
Cons of a Crossover League
Silver has been experimenting with ideas to take the NBA to new places, which is a good idea. But there’s a reason why Silver’s talks with FIBA executives remain in the early stages right now.
The idea of a FIBA-NBA crossover league is a low-risk, high-reward move for both parties. The NBA can discover foreign basketball talent while improving the facilities of aspiring professional basketball players. But many questions, such as “Will the games be contested in FIBA or NBA rules?” remain unanswered for the time being.
It’s also important to note that the FIBA-NBA crossover league’s annual tournament can dwindle unless the league follows in the UEFA Champions League’s footsteps. The former should take note of the latter’s 32-team tournament with a group stage but a different knockout phase, permission for the world’s teams to qualify for the tournament, and a neutral location for the tournament’s final game. If followed, the former can make the tournament accessible for players, teams, and fans in the short- and long-term.
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Ana is an accomplished journalist with various credentials in writing, reporting, and broadcasting. With a diverse background and a bachelor’s degree in communications from San Jose State University, Ana can deliver the news in a timely manner and share her opinions with confidence.
