The NBA has confirmed plans to launch a new European league, provisionally named NBA Europe, in October 2027, with London and Manchester expected to feature among 12 to 16 franchise teams. New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby, the standout UK-born player currently in the NBA, said the project could take basketball "to another level" in Britain, as he continues to promote the sport's growth in his home city of London during the off-season.

Bidding for franchises closed in June, with cities attracting offers of between $500m (£372m) and $1bn (£745m), and team identities are expected to start being revealed later this year. NBA officials say planning remains on track for a launch alongside the 2027-28 NBA season, describing the UK as one of the biggest opportunities in the project, with strong demand since bidding closed. Anunoby, part of a UK quartet in the league that also includes Jeremy Sochan, Amari Williams and Tobi Lawal, has also invested in redeveloping a grassroots basketball court in Camden, and is now focused on helping the Knicks defend their NBA title after ending a 51-year wait for a championship.