Real Madrid heading to NBA: Spanish giant ready to leave EuroLeague

Real Madrid seems determined to take the leap towards the NBA. According to information from AS, the Spanish capital club has decided to accept the North American league’s offer and abandon EuroLeague to embark on this new adventure planned for 2027.

Negotiations between Real Madrid and the NBA have progressed, although no final agreement has been signed yet. Dialogue remains ongoing in what should be a revolutionary alliance for European basketball. The NBA, taking advantage of regular season games organized on European soil, has launched a series of contacts with investors to propose they join the future NBA Europe.

🏀 𝐄𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐝, 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐚 𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐍𝐁𝐀 🏀

📝 En las horas claves del baloncesto continental, el Real Madrid se acerca a la NBA: está a punto de dar el OK a participar en la nueva liga que plantean los americanos

✍️ @maestrebasket @AS_baloncesto @AS_NBA pic.twitter.com/tJmV8cQgAY

— Diario AS (@diarioas) January 14, 2026

A 16-team project dividing European basketball

The NBA Europe project plans for 16 teams to participate each season: twelve with fixed licenses and four qualified through other competitions, including the BCL. This new competition aims to involve football clubs without basketball tradition (Rome, PSG, Manchester), develop markets like London and Berlin, and explore Turkey.

This initiative is developing in partnership with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), in direct opposition to EuroLeague which has maintained a war for control of the Old Continent for nine years. For Real Madrid, this change represents a major transformation, not only in the basketball paradigm, but also commercially.

Coach Sergio Scariolo had discussed this transition last summer: « This moment of change is part of a very important transition in European basketball. We are heading towards a new era, with different scenarios in competition. The structural change within the club demonstrates modernization and a more NBA-oriented approach to doing things. »

EuroLeague attempts damage control

Facing this NBA offensive, EuroLeague has established an unofficial ultimatum for January 15 to learn the clubs’ intentions. Nine teams have already signed for ten years: Baskonia, Anadolu Efes, Bayern, Zalgiris, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Olimpia Milan, Panathinaikos, Olympiakos and CSKA Moscow (still on board). FC Barcelona finally chose to stay in EuroLeague, while reserving the option to pay a penalty to join the NBA.

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Jan 13, 2026

Téo Nievas

Fenerbahce and Real Madrid lean more towards the NBA, while ASVEL, initially favorable to the Americans thanks to Tony Parker, is backing away slightly and doesn’t rule out renewing with EuroLeague. This battle for the future of European basketball completely reshapes the sport’s landscape, with Real Madrid positioned as the spearhead of the NBA Europe project.

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Towards a reversal of situation for ASVEL in EuroLeague?

Jan 13, 2026

Arthur Puybertier

As new revelations are expected to emerge throughout Thursday, January 15, with probably the final position of Fenerbahce – reigning EuroLeague champion – and ASVEL, other clubs that don’t hold permanent licenses have taken advantage by taking action by joining forces to influence ECA (Euroleague Commercial Assets) in their favor.

It remains to be seen whether Real Madrid will play the Basketball Champions League (BCL) in addition to Liga Endesa in 2026-2027, during a transition season.