Kenny Atkinson, the Cleveland Cavaliers head coach and recent NBA Coach of the Year, has publicly voiced his support for the NBA’s initiative to launch a Europe‑based league. He argued that the traditional American developmental pathway does not nurture young talent in the same way that European club structures do.
Atkinson made these remarks while wrapping up the Cavs’ preseason training camp in Málaga, Spain, a setting that felt familiar given his own extensive experience playing and coaching across the continent. Having spent almost ten years as a professional player in several European countries—including stints in France, Spain and Germany—Atkinson began his coaching career on the continent as an assistant with Paris Basket Racing in 2004.
He later joined Vincent Collet’s staff when France captured the Olympic silver medal in Paris, giving him a deep appreciation for the club‑centric model that dominates European basketball. Drawing on that background, he explained to Sky Sports why he believes the NBA‑FIBA partnership could be a game‑changer for the sport worldwide. “I love the NBA,” Atkinson said.
“I love that we’re in talks with FIBA to create NBA Europe. It will open up more opportunities for players everywhere.” He went on to compare the two development ecosystems. In Europe, clubs operate youth academies that integrate teenagers directly into senior‑level competition.
For instance, the French federation’s INSEP program—fielded under the name Pole France—competes in Nationale 1, the third tier of French men’s basketball. Those squads are typically made up of 15‑ to 18‑year‑olds who face seasoned professionals week after week, a situation that forces rapid growth and fosters a natural mentorship dynamic.
“At the European level, it’s a club system. We just don’t work that way in the United States,” Atkinson noted.
“We have the university and scholastic routes, which are very different.” He highlighted that European youngsters often train alongside older teammates, gaining exposure to seasoned veterans’ habits, work ethic, and tactical knowledge. In contrast, the American pathway tends to keep players within age‑specific brackets—high school, then college, then the G‑League—limiting the chance for younger athletes to test themselves against more mature competition. The coach stressed that neither system is inherently superior; each offers distinct advantages.
“Both have their benefits,” he said. “It’s hard to claim one is better than the other. They’re simply two completely different approaches to player development.” Atkinson’s own roster provides a tangible illustration of the European model’s effectiveness. Cleveland drafted French forward Khalifa Diop 39th overall in 2022 after the youngster had already logged experience in Spain’s fourth division at age 15 and debuted in the ACB, Spain’s top league, at 19.
The Cavs allowed Diop to remain in Europe for four more seasons before signing him to an NBA contract, demonstrating a willingness to let European‑trained players mature in their native environments. The broader NBA‑Europe project has been under discussion since March 2025.
The proposed league would feature 16 teams—12 permanent franchises plus four spots open each season through qualifiers—targeting launch in the autumn of 2027. Cities such as London and Manchester are among the early candidates, with the inaugural regular‑season game slated for Co‑op Live in Manchester on January 17, when New Orleans will face San Antonio. Players have already expressed enthusiasm.
Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill, a 2020 second‑round pick who spent two years in the G‑League before joining Cleveland, said a European league would have been an attractive alternative at a crossroads in his career. “There was a point when I thought I might end up overseas,” Merrill explained.
“If NBA Europe existed, it would have been a great option.” He also raised financial considerations, noting the recent shift in U.S. college basketball where schools now pay athletes directly, with budgets reaching $7 million to $10 million per season for power‑conference programs. The question remains how NBA Europe’s compensation model will stack up against these figures.
Industry analysts have speculated that franchise fees for NBA Europe could range from $500 million to $1 billion, though neither the NBA nor FIBA has disclosed exact numbers. The league’s eventual salary structure for players who stay in Europe rather than crossing the Atlantic is still unknown, leaving prospects like Merrill to weigh the trade‑offs between exposure, competition level, and earnings.
Beyond the financials, Merrill praised the style of play he observes in European leagues. “The physicality is intense, more akin to college basketball in the States,” he said. “You have two games a week, lots of practice, and every matchup feels like a playoff game.” He added that many fans undervalue the quality of the EuroLeague and top domestic competitions, which consistently produce NBA‑ready talent.
The next pivotal step involves the EuroLeague’s own governance. Shareholders will convene at Villa d’Este on Lake Como to discuss the league’s future amid NBA overtures. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the meeting will consider two scenarios: an NBA‑driven acquisition that folds the EuroLeague into the new pan‑European competition, or an independent expansion plan championed by EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno, which envisions 24 teams (21 permanent) beginning in the 2027‑28 season. Bueno has indicated that, as of September, the NBA has not presented a concrete partnership proposal, though Eurohoops later reported that an offer was indeed on the table.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has reiterated the league’s commitment to move forward regardless of the EuroLeague’s stance. “We began this path saying our plan was to go ahead no matter where the EuroLeague stands,” he told reporters in July. “Our hope has always been to create some form of consolidation for European basketball, and I remain optimistic we’ll achieve that.” In summary, Kenny Atkinson’s endorsement of NBA Europe reflects both his personal journey through the European club system and his belief that cross‑continental collaboration can enrich the global game.
By blending the mentorship‑heavy, club‑based development model of Europe with the athleticism and commercial reach of the NBA, the proposed league aims to offer young talent a richer array of pathways to professional success. Whether the venture will reshape player movement, financial structures, and coaching philosophies remains to be seen, but the conversation is already reshaping how stakeholders envision the future of basketball on both sides of the Atlantic.