Kenny Atkinson, the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the reigning NBA Coach of the Year, has voiced strong support for the NBA’s proposal to launch a Europe‑based league. Speaking after his team’s training camp in Málaga, Atkinson emphasized that the traditional American pathway for young talent does not nurture players in the same way that European clubs do.
Having spent a large portion of his playing career across several European countries and beginning his coaching journey on the continent, Atkinson brings a unique perspective to the conversation. During the interview, Atkinson said, “I love the NBA. I love that we are in talks with FIBA to create this NBA Europe.
It’s going to bring more opportunity for players across the globe.” He went on to explain the structural differences between the two systems. In Europe, the sport is organized around clubs that develop athletes from a very early age, often integrating them with senior squads.
By contrast, the United States relies on a university and high‑school framework that keeps young prospects largely separated from older, more experienced professionals. “The European system is a club system and we just don’t work that way,” Atkinson told Sky Sports. “We have the university system, the scholastic system, and it’s just different.” He highlighted how European youngsters might play for an under‑16 or under‑17 side while simultaneously training alongside older teammates.
In France, for example, the INSEP program fields a youth team that competes in the country’s third division, Nationale 1, allowing teenagers to face seasoned adult players. “I think that mentoring system is really important,” Atkinson added.
He was clear about the contrast with the American model, noting that U.S. prospects typically compete only against peers of the same age. “In the American system we’re much more playing against your peers and at the same age, and our young players don’t compete against more mature players as much.
You learn a lot from veteran players,” he said. Atkinson stressed that both approaches have merit and that it would be simplistic to declare one superior to the other. “They both have their benefits. It’s hard to say this one’s better than this one.
Definitely two completely different ways of developing players.” The details he cited are accurate: the INSEP side, entered by the French federation as Pole France, competes in Nationale 1 and fields athletes aged 15‑18. The team cannot be promoted or relegated, ensuring a stable environment for development. Atkinson’s own résumé underscores his familiarity with this model.
He played for clubs such as Montpellier, Mulhouse, Nantes, and Evreux in France, with additional stints in Spain and Germany. He transitioned to coaching in 2004 as an assistant with Paris Basket Racing and later served on Vincent Collet’s staff when France captured the Olympic silver medal in Paris.
When asked whether a Europe‑wide league could bridge the gap between the two development philosophies, Atkinson responded enthusiastically: “I love that. I think it’s going to be better for global basketball, because that cross‑pollination, you’re going to see the best of both worlds.” He noted that the coaching world already feels the influence of European tactics on the NBA and vice‑versa, and he expects the same exchange to happen with players once the league materializes. A concrete example of the European pathway on Atkinson’s own roster is Khalifa Diop.
Diop played in Spain’s fourth tier at age 15, reached the top‑flight ACB by 19, and was drafted 39th overall by Cleveland in 2022. The Cavaliers left him in Spain for four more seasons before signing him in 2024, illustrating how the club values the experience gained in a professional European environment. The NBA and FIBA have been exploring a pan‑European competition since March 2025. The proposed structure envisions 16 teams—12 permanent franchises and four spots open each season through qualifiers—debuting in the autumn of 2027.
Potential host cities include London and Manchester, with the inaugural regular‑season NBA game scheduled for Co‑op Live in Manchester on January 17, 2028, where New Orleans will face San Antonio. Players have already expressed enthusiasm. Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill, who was the final pick (60th) in the 2020 draft, said that a Europe‑based league would have been a viable alternative had his career taken a different turn after his time at Utah State.
“I had a point in my career where I felt like I was going to end up coming overseas,” he explained. “If that had been the case, something like NBA Europe would have been a great option.” Merrill also raised financial considerations, noting the recent shift in U.S. college basketball where schools now pay athletes directly.
The 2026‑27 cap for a university program is $21.58 million, with top programs spending $7‑10 million per season on men’s basketball. He wondered how those lucrative college salaries would compete with potential earnings in an NBA Europe framework. The financial model for the new league remains unclear. Reports suggest franchise bids ranging from $500 million to $1 billion, yet neither the NBA nor FIBA has disclosed player salary structures.
Some European prospects have already reversed the traditional flow, such as Egor Demin moving from Real Madrid to BYU and Dame Sarr leaving Barcelona for Duke, indicating that a competitive European league could alter talent migration patterns. Merrill praised the style of European play, describing it as “more physical” and “more like college, with two games a week, a lot of practice, and each game feeling like a playoff.” He believes the EuroLeague and top domestic competitions are often undervalued in the United States. The next decisive steps will be taken by club executives.
EuroLeague owners are set to convene at Villa d’Este on Lake Como to discuss the league’s future alongside the NBA’s overtures. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the meeting will weigh an NBA acquisition proposal against an internal expansion plan championed by EuroLeague chief executive Chus Bueno, which envisions 24 teams (21 permanent) starting in the 2027‑28 season.
Bueno has indicated that the NBA has not yet presented a concrete partnership offer, though Eurohoops reported that an informal proposal is on the table. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has reiterated that the league will move forward regardless of the EuroLeague’s stance. “We began on this path saying that our plan was to go forward regardless of where the EuroLeague stood,” he said in July.
“But it was always our hope that we would be able to create some sort of consolidation of European basketball. I remain optimistic that we are going to be able to accomplish that.” In summary, Atkinson’s endorsement of NBA Europe stems from his belief that merging the club‑centric European development model with the American college system could create a richer, more versatile pipeline for global talent. By providing young athletes with the chance to train and compete alongside seasoned professionals early in their careers, the proposed league promises to enhance player growth, broaden scouting horizons, and ultimately elevate the sport worldwide.