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 purchase alone; he faces a rival consortium that includes the current Spurs owners, the Lewis family, among other prominent investors. According to a Sky News report, the Lewis family has joined forces with the Checketts family, who are leading a broader partnership that has formally lodged a bid in the ongoing auction process for the coveted franchise. The Checketts are no strangers to professional sport ownership.
Their portfolio already includes stakes in Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake and the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues, giving them a track record of managing teams across different sporting codes and markets. Their experience in both North American and European sports landscapes positions them as serious contenders for the London NBA franchise. Adding further depth to the consortium, the Eccles family has also thrown its weight behind the bid.
The Eccles own interests in English club Burnley FC and Spanish side RCD Espanyol, and they are collaborating closely with the Checketts to present a unified front. Levy, meanwhile, is reportedly aligning himself with a separate investment group that includes Liberty Global—a global telecommunications giant—and MSP Sports Capital, a private‑equity firm that previously backed McLaren Racing.
This alternative consortium is also in the running for the NBA London team, meaning the final decision will hinge on which partnership can demonstrate the strongest financial backing, strategic vision, and commitment to growing the sport in the UK. The race for the London franchise is part of a broader NBA Europe expansion strategy that aims to establish twelve new teams across the continent. London has quickly emerged as the most desirable market among the planned locations, which also feature cities such as Berlin, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris and Rome.
The league’s ambition is to unlock billions of dollars in revenue by selling franchise rights, securing local sponsorships, and tapping into the massive fan bases of both basketball and the host cities. Initial transactions are expected to be finalized within the next few weeks, setting the stage for a new era of professional basketball in Europe.
The significance of this development extends beyond the sport itself. In recent years, wealthy American families and institutional investors have been increasingly interested in acquiring stakes in UK sports assets, especially football clubs.
This trend reflects a broader belief that the UK market offers stable returns, global brand exposure, and opportunities for cross‑sport synergies. Levy’s potential involvement in the NBA venture underscores this shift, as a figure traditionally associated with football now looks to diversify into basketball. Levy’s own career at Tottenham has been marked by longevity and influence.
He stepped down as executive chairman in September 2025 after nearly a quarter‑century at the helm. While the official statement from both Levy and the club framed his departure as a voluntary resignation, many observers interpreted the move as being prompted by external pressures and internal dynamics beyond his control. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his exit, Levy’s reputation as a shrewd businessman and a seasoned sports executive remains intact, making him a formidable candidate in the NBA franchise auction. The NBA’s expansion into Europe is more than a commercial venture; it is an attempt to cultivate a new generation of fans and to embed basketball more deeply into the cultural fabric of the continent.
By establishing franchises in major European capitals, the league hopes to replicate the success it has enjoyed in North America, where local team identities drive fan loyalty, merchandise sales, and media contracts. In London, the NBA will likely leverage the city’s status as a global financial hub and its diverse, multicultural population to attract both traditional basketball enthusiasts and newcomers.
For fans eager to follow the developments, the league has promised extensive media coverage. In the UK, Sky Sports holds the broadcasting rights for NBA games, offering live streams of the regular season and playoffs.
Viewers can access the content contract‑free via the NOW streaming platform, ensuring that the excitement of the NBA reaches a broad audience without the barrier of long‑term subscription commitments. As the bidding process unfolds, several key factors will influence the final decision: the financial robustness of each consortium, the strategic plan for community engagement, the ability to secure a suitable arena in London, and the commitment to developing grassroots basketball programs that will feed talent into the professional ranks.
Both Levy’s group and the Checketts‑Lewis‑Eccles partnership will need to articulate clear pathways for sustainable growth, not just immediate profitability. In summary, the competition for the NBA Europe London franchise pits former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy against a consortium that includes the current Spurs owners, the Lewis family, and seasoned sports investors such as the Checketts and Eccles families. With the NBA’s ambitious expansion agenda and the lucrative potential of a London‑based team, the outcome of this auction will have far‑reaching implications for the future of basketball in the United Kingdom and across Europe.