Former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has entered a high‑stakes competition to acquire the NBA Europe franchise that will be based in London. He is not pursuing the deal alone; he faces a rival consortium that includes the current Spurs owners, the Lewis family, alongside other prominent sports investors.
According to a report from Sky News, the Lewis family is part of a broader partnership headed by the Checketts family. The Checketts‑led group has formally lodged a bid as part of the ongoing auction process for the coveted London NBA team.
The Checketts are no strangers to professional sport ownership; they have previously held stakes in Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake and own a significant interest in the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues.
Their experience in managing clubs across different leagues gives them a strong foundation for entering the burgeoning NBA Europe market. Adding further depth to the Checketts consortium is the Eccles family, which brings additional football pedigree to the table. The Eccleses already own shares in Burnley Football Club and the Spanish side RCD Espanyol.
Their involvement creates a multi‑sport, cross‑border partnership that could leverage synergies between football and basketball operations, fan engagement strategies, and commercial sponsorships. Levy’s own consortium is equally impressive. Earlier coverage from Sky News indicated that he is aligned with Liberty Global, a major international telecommunications company, and MSP Sports Capital, a private‑equity firm that previously backed McLaren Racing. This alliance reflects a blend of media, technology, and sports‑investment expertise, positioning Levy’s bid as a modern, digitally‑focused proposition for the NBA’s European expansion.
The race for the London franchise is part of a larger NBA Europe initiative that aims to establish twelve new teams across the continent. Cities that have already been earmarked include Berlin, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris and Rome, each promising to become a hub for basketball fans and a new revenue stream for the league. Among these, London has emerged as the most sought‑after location, largely due to its global financial clout, diverse population, and existing sports infrastructure.
The NBA’s strategic vision for Europe is to generate billions of dollars by selling franchise rights, media deals, sponsorship packages and merchandising opportunities. The league expects the first tranche of transactions to be finalized in the coming weeks, with the London team likely to command a premium price given the city’s market size and commercial appeal.
Levy’s departure from his role as executive chairman of Tottenham Hotspur in September 2025 added another layer of intrigue to the story. Official statements from both the club and Levy described his exit as a voluntary "stepping down," yet industry insiders widely interpreted the move as being forced by the board. After nearly a quarter‑century at the helm of one of England’s most storied football clubs, Levy is now looking to apply his executive acumen to a different sport, potentially reshaping the basketball landscape in the United Kingdom.
The involvement of wealthy American families and investors in UK sport has been on the rise, especially within football, where foreign capital has transformed club ownership structures over the past two decades. This trend is now spilling over into basketball, as the NBA seeks to capitalize on the sport’s growing popularity across Europe.
Investors see an opportunity to tap into a market that combines passionate fan bases, high‑visibility media platforms, and the potential for lucrative cross‑selling of merchandise and digital content. If Levy’s consortium succeeds, the London NBA team could benefit from his deep connections within the UK sporting world, his experience in stadium development, and his ability to negotiate complex commercial deals.
Conversely, the Checketts‑Eccles‑Lewis partnership would bring a diversified portfolio of sports assets and a proven track record of operating successful franchises in both North America and Europe. Beyond the business dynamics, the launch of an NBA team in London promises to enrich the city’s cultural fabric. It would provide a new arena for young athletes to aspire to professional basketball careers, foster community outreach programs, and create a platform for international talent to showcase their skills on a global stage.
The team’s presence could also stimulate local economies through job creation, tourism, and increased demand for related services such as hospitality and merchandising. Fans eager to follow the developments can watch live NBA action on Sky Sports, which holds broadcasting rights for the league in the UK.
For those without a traditional subscription, Sky offers a contract‑free streaming option via the NOW platform, ensuring that the excitement of the NBA season remains accessible to a broad audience. In summary, the contest between Daniel Levy’s consortium and the Checketts‑Eccles‑Lewis group epitomizes the high‑profile nature of the NBA’s European expansion.
With London at the forefront of this ambitious project, the eventual winner will not only secure a valuable sports franchise but also shape the future of basketball in one of the world’s most influential cities.