Istanbul Enters NBA-FIBA Race as Europe's Basketball Order Faces Test

By Bosphorus News Sports & Economy Desks

Istanbul has been identified as one of 12 target cities for a new professional basketball league being developed jointly by the NBA and FIBA, as the two organisations work through franchise bids submitted by potential ownership groups across Europe.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum confirmed on April 27 that multiple ownership groups from all 12 targeted cities have submitted bids. Speaking at an Associated Press Sports Editors meeting, Tatum said the NBA and FIBA were "very, very happy" with the level of interest. "Right now, we're just going through that process of narrowing down those bids into a little bit of a short list and trying to go out and continue to build partnerships with the right people in those markets," he said. The league is targeting an October 2027 launch. The other cities in contention are London, Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Munich, Berlin and Athens.

Three Istanbul Scenarios

The franchise model under discussion involves 12 permanent franchises and four additional spots allocated through sporting qualification. For Istanbul, three structural paths are possible.

The first is direct inclusion of an existing club: Fenerbahçe Beko or Anadolu Efes absorbs a franchise slot, bringing its existing fanbase, sponsors and arena into the new league. The second is a new Istanbul franchise, NBA-branded and separately owned, competing independently of the existing clubs. The third is a hybrid: an existing club enters a minority or majority ownership arrangement with a new investor group to form the franchise.

Each path carries different implications. A new standalone franchise would create direct competition for Istanbul's two EuroLeague clubs, potentially fragmenting the market. An existing club conversion would remove one of Türkiye's strongest European basketball assets from the EuroLeague ecosystem. A hybrid model would preserve more continuity but would require alignment between new investors and established club cultures that have operated independently for decades.

As reported by Bosphorus News in January 2026, Fenerbahçe's management signalled caution rather than early alignment, stating the club was "looking for the ideal path" and would not be rushed into strategic choices.

Istanbul as the Eastern Anchor

Istanbul's inclusion carries a different strategic logic from the Western European cities on the list. London, Paris and Madrid represent established commercial markets. Istanbul represents access to a wider regional market across the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. An Istanbul franchise would be the easternmost anchor of the league, positioned differently from every other city on the list.

For the NBA, which has explicitly framed this project as a global opportunity, that geography matters. "We're really thinking this is a global opportunity and we want to take advantage of the European culture and the European affinity for the game of basketball," Tatum said.

Turkish Basketball Federation President Hidayet Türkoğlu signalled openness while setting clear conditions. "If the NBA presents a strong economic picture, our clubs in the EuroLeague will also look more favourably at the NBA Europe project," he said in remarks carried by Eurohoops and Anadolu Agency. He also noted that the NBA's global brand and organisational scale would bring value to European basketball, and separately that the federation is seeking to bring NBA games to Istanbul as part of a broader deepening of ties with the league. The federation's position is cautious but open.

A Ready Market

Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes are established EuroLeague franchises with loyal fanbases, experienced front offices, sponsor networks and arena operations that have hosted top-level European basketball for years. Anadolu Efes won back-to-back EuroLeague championships in 2021 and 2022. Fenerbahçe Beko has been a perennial title contender. Istanbul has a large registered player base and consistent domestic basketball culture. For the NBA, entering Istanbul would not require building a market from scratch.

The EuroLeague Fault Line

The central institutional obstacle is the EuroLeague. Tatum confirmed that officials from the NBA, FIBA and EuroLeague will meet in Geneva on April 28. "We hope to be able to come together with the EuroLeague to align on the right system and the right setup here," he said.

The tension has been building for months. As covered by Bosphorus News in December 2025, Fenerbahçe head coach Šarūnas Jasikevičius described the EuroLeague as "the last form of pure basketball" and warned directly that NBA involvement risked diluting the character of European basketball. "I hope we don't lose what we already have, regardless of how financially strong the NBA is," he said.

The stakes for the EuroLeague are not abstract. Istanbul currently provides two of the competition's most consistent franchises. Fenerbahçe Beko and Anadolu Efes bring fanbase depth, arena revenue, sponsor relationships and competitive credibility that the EuroLeague cannot easily replace. If either club moves toward an NBA-affiliated structure, the EuroLeague loses not just two teams but its most significant Eastern Mediterranean market. That loss would reshape the competition's geographic balance and commercial reach at a moment when it is already under structural pressure from the NBA-FIBA project.

Türkoğlu's framing reflects that tension precisely. Supporting NBA involvement in principle while making club participation contingent on economic terms is a negotiating position, not a commitment. The clubs will follow the money. The EuroLeague knows it.

Istanbul's Week

The NBA franchise process arrives in a week that has already positioned Istanbul as a target for large-scale international commercial commitments. Formula 1 returns to Istanbul Park from 2027 through 2031. A 20-year foreign income tax exemption for new residents was announced the same day. An NBA-affiliated franchise would add a year-round professional sports presence to that positioning, distinct from the annual event model that Formula 1 represents.

The decision will show whether Istanbul becomes a founding pillar of NBA Europe or remains one of the strongest markets outside the new franchise wall.

***Sources: Associated Press, April 27, 2026; Fox Sports, April 27, 2026; NBC Bay Area, April 27, 2026; Washington Post, April 27, 2026; Eurohoops, Anadolu Agency, Hidayet Türkoğlu interview; NBA official statements; FIBA official statements; Bosphorus News reporting.