Liverpool fans could have another team to cheer as NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he’s “enthusiastic” about a new European league that could start in 2027 or ’28.
With the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona already having established Basketball teams, could this be the start of Premier league teams following suit?
Half of clubs in the English topflight are American-owned, with Liverpool and the Fenway Sports Group (FSG), and Everton and the Friedkin Group being two.
Despite not currently owning a Basketball team, it was heavily rumoured last year that FSG would be venturing into the sport.
Between 2011-2021, NBA star, Lebron James owned two per-cent of Liverpool FC.
He has since converted it to a one per-cent share into FSG’s global empire, meaning he became a co-owner of the Boston Red Sox (MLB) and Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).
Launching a basketball team could be something that appeals to both James and FSG.
D1 player and Liverpudlian Dante Sofia said: “I think Liverpool’s a very big city and I think there’s a very big growing basketball scene.
“I think grassroots level’s really growing and now I think kids would have that kind of end goal of professional Basketball in front of them.”
Although it would bring professional basketball to Merseyside, Sofia believes players will still set their sights for the US.
“In my lifetime the NBA’s always been the pinnacle and even for British players over here their dream is to play in the NBA,” he said.
“There’s not a lot of kids whose dreams are to play in Europe but being realistic there are amazing players around the world but no I don’t think it could surpass the NBA.”
As it stands, Cheshire Phoenix and Manchester Basketball are the closest professional teams to a growing Merseyside audience.
From a footballing sense, Liverpool fans have notoriously been angered by FSG funding other projects, as demonstrated with a banner reading ‘FSG OUT – KLOPP IN – ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ back in2023.
And despite the club’s heavy spending summer, the American group have once again raised concerns with parts of the Liverpool fanbase.
Liverpool FC fan Matt Pelosi said: “I don’t get that really. Not that many people really watch basketball, and I don’t think Liverpool making a team is going to change that.”
However, Everton fan Diana Mckrow said: “You know what, I think that’ll be amazing for young kids here. We might actually win something.”
Without any real kind of infrastructure, there’s still a long way to go before anything like this could really come to light.
But basketball is growing in this county, and having a multi-billion-pound company to represent it will create a buzz that can’t be ignored.
