Adam Silver reportedly mulls over FIBA alliance to boost NBA reach amid viewership slump
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the league is seriously considering an alliance with world basketball governing body FIBA to aid The Association in expanding its presence in Europe. The league, among other things, is eyeing an annual tournament or a league operated by the NBA.
The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds reported on the sidelines of the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. According to his report, nothing definitive has come out of the discussions but the NBA is highly interested in making it happen to tap into the enormous opportunity available in Europe and address slumping NBA viewership.
Adam Silver and his team made the trip to Paris to hold discussions with FIBA officials, league executives and other stakeholders to get a firmer grasp of the situation of the European basketball landscape and pinpoint areas of opportunities to explore.
But while at it, the league is mindful not to be disruptive of the basketball structure already in place and instead be more complementary to further growth.
"'We have a huge initiative in China. We have a huge initiative in Africa. Given the quality of the basketball here in Europe, it would seem to make sense that we should be doing something here as well,' said Silver of their planned push in Europe."
The discussions come amid reports of a slump in NBA viewership, with the recent Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks down 3% from 2023 and the overall playoff viewership dropping by a wider 12%.
NBA sees Europe as an important destination for the league
The initiative for the NBA to have a wider presence in Europe has been up for consideration for quite some time now, with the continent viewed by the league as an important market for further growth.
In 2020, the NBA told Sportcal Insight of the growing importance of Europe, especially Paris where the Olympic Games is currently being held.
For one, Europe is the only region outside of North America that holds an annual regular league season game while a large number of games are being aired live in primetime in Europe.
Paris, meanwhile, has stood up as an NBA prime destination, along with London, for its rich basketball tradition and knowledgeable and passionate fans.
"'France is one of the best basketball markets in the world,' said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver of France."
Last season, 64 European players made opening-night rosters, led by All-NBA members Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee (Greece), Dallas' Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Denver's Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Sacramento's Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania).
Meanwhile, of the European players, 14 came from France, namely, Theo Maledon, Frank Ntilikina, Malcolm Cazalon, Killian Hayes, Moussa Diabate, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Ousmane Dieng, Olivier Sarr, Rayan Rupert, Victor Wembanyama, Sidy Cissoko and Bilal Coulibaly.