Former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has entered a high‑profile contest to acquire the NBA Europe franchise that will be based in London, pitting his bid against a consortium that includes the club's current owners, the Lewis family. According to Sky News, the Lewis family is aligned with a broader investment group led by the Checketts family, which has formally lodged an offer as part of the ongoing auction process for the coveted NBA Europe slot.
The Checketts family is no stranger to professional sport ownership. Their portfolio already features stakes in Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake and the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues, giving them considerable experience in managing and growing sports properties across different markets. Joining the Checketts in this venture is the Eccles family, another well‑known name in football circles.
The Eccleses hold shareholdings in England’s Burnley Football Club as well as in Spain’s RCD Espanyol, further diversifying the consortium’s sporting interests. Levy’s own consortium is reported to be comprised of Liberty Global, a multinational telecommunications firm, and MSP Sports Capital, an investment vehicle that previously backed the iconic McLaren Racing team. This alliance underscores the growing trend of cross‑border, multi‑industry partnerships seeking to tap into the lucrative potential of professional basketball in Europe.
Both groups are vying for the same London franchise, which is widely regarded as the most valuable of the twelve new NBA Europe teams slated for launch. The NBA’s European expansion plan includes clubs in Berlin, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris and Rome, but London stands out as the flagship market. The league aims to generate billions of dollars by selling franchise rights, with the first deals expected to be sealed within weeks.
This aggressive rollout reflects the NBA’s strategic ambition to capture a larger share of the global sports entertainment pie, leveraging the continent’s deep football culture and rising appetite for basketball. Levy’s involvement in the bid comes after a long tenure at Tottenham Hotspur. He stepped down as executive chairman in September 2025 after nearly a quarter‑century at the helm. While official statements from both Spurs and Levy framed the departure as a voluntary resignation, industry insiders widely interpreted the move as being forced, suggesting internal pressure or strategic disagreements that prompted his exit.
The competition for the London franchise highlights a broader shift in ownership patterns across UK sport. Wealthy American families and investment groups have increasingly been acquiring stakes in British football clubs, and basketball is now attracting similar attention.
The NBA Europe project is expected to bring significant commercial opportunities, from broadcasting rights and sponsorship deals to merchandise sales and fan engagement initiatives. Sky Sports will broadcast the NBA’s regular season and playoff games in the UK, offering a contract‑free streaming option through its NOW platform for viewers without a traditional Sky subscription. This accessibility is part of the NBA’s wider strategy to grow its fan base in Europe, ensuring that the excitement of the league reaches a broad audience. In addition to the franchise auction, the NBA continues to generate headlines with player news, such as LeBron James’s upcoming debut for the Philadelphia 76ers against the New York Knicks.
Such star power adds to the overall buzz surrounding the league’s expansion and serves as a reminder of the global appeal that the NBA hopes to replicate in its European markets. As the bidding process unfolds, stakeholders from both sides are likely to intensify their outreach to potential investors, local authorities, and corporate partners. Securing the London franchise will not only provide a new revenue stream for the NBA but also offer a platform for community development, youth programs, and cultural exchange through sport.
The final outcome will shape the future of professional basketball on the continent and could set a precedent for how major American sports leagues approach international expansion in the coming decade. For fans eager to follow the developments, keeping an eye on Sky News updates, NBA press releases, and official statements from the involved parties will be essential. Whether Levy’s consortium or the Checketts‑Lewis‑Eccles partnership ultimately wins the bid, the competition underscores the high stakes and massive interest surrounding the NBA’s European venture, marking a pivotal moment in the transatlantic sports landscape.