OG Anunoby says NBA Europe could lift UK basketball to new heights

NBA Europe, a new league slated for an October 2027 debut, will comprise 12 to 16 European teams, with London and Manchester expected to secure franchises. Bids for ownership, ranging from $500 million to $1 billion per city, were due in June and the league’s lineup should be announced within the year. Knicks forward OG Anunoby, the most prominent UK-born NBA player, described the initiative as "amazing" and said it will elevate basketball across the United Kingdom.

Laura Pinnell, vice-president of the NBA’s Consumer Group for Europe and the Middle East, said the UK presents one of the biggest opportunities for the project. Anunoby, who helped the Knicks win their first title since 1973, also discussed his personal off-season work on a grassroots court in Camden and his aim to help New York repeat as champions. The league will align its start with the 2027-28 NBA season, and planning is proceeding on schedule.