NBA Fans were quick to react after @MadridXtra reported that “Real Madrid are set to leave the EuroLeague & will join the ‘NBA Europe’ project as one of the 12 founding clubs,” adding that “The NBA estimates that the value of ‘NBA Europe’ franchises will be around 1 Billion Dollars in 5-6 years.”
The news didn’t take long to spread, and once it did, NBA Fans immediately started connecting dots.
One of the first replies to gain traction came from @ammesomatado, who asked, “lol what’s the problem with Florentino Perez really?”
lol what’s the problem with Florentino Perez really? (crying emojis)
— RAZZY$IGN (@ammesomatado) January 22, 2026
The comment tapped into a familiar feeling. For many NBA Fans, this move felt less like a surprise and more like another chapter in a long-running pattern.
@SteveGalvisX made that point directly, writing, “He’s getting his Super League just not in football.”
The reference to the failed European football Super League attempt landed with a lot of NBA Fans, who saw similarities in structure, ambition, and the promise of massive long-term value.
From there, the discussion widened. Some NBA Fans focused on the business side, pointing at the billion-dollar estimate and saying it explains everything. Others were more skeptical, questioning what happens to long-standing leagues and rivalries if clubs like Real Madrid walk away.
A number of NBA Fans also wondered what “NBA Europe” would really look like. Would it be independent? Would it be tied closely to the NBA brand? Would it pull talent, money, and attention away from what already exists? Those questions filled the replies just as much as jokes about Perez.
For NBA Fans, this announcement isn’t just about a new league idea. It’s about power. It’s about control. And it’s about whether the global basketball structure is slowly being reshaped in the same way football almost was.
Some NBA Fans were excited by the idea of a Europe-based league with NBA backing. Others felt uneasy, saying the project sounded more like a takeover than a partnership. Either way, very few treated it as a neutral update.
By the end of the thread, the mood was clear. NBA Fans weren’t only reacting to Real Madrid. They were reacting to what this move might represent. Another attempt to rebuild a sport’s ecosystem from the top down, with familiar names, familiar money, and familiar risks.
NBA Fans push back as more European giants take steps toward NBA Europe
The conversation grew even louder when @TheAthletic added more names to the picture.
They reported that “Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, two soccer and basketball heavyweights, Olimpia Milano, Panathinaikos, ASVEL, Bayern Munich and Alba Berlin all took steps toward NBA Europe on Monday,” also noting that “Owners of Manchester City and AC Milan soccer giants also want to get in on Adam Silver’s new league.”
That update shifted the tone. What felt like a single club decision now looked much bigger. And NBA Fans didn’t hide their concern.
@DaveTweet176908 wrote, “Terrible idea, throwing away 60 years of history of European basketball to become a literal NBA minor league.”
That post summed up what many NBA Fans were worried about. Loss of identity. Loss of tradition. Loss of control.
@oluw4965 echoed that feeling from a different angle, saying, “Here they go again trying to disrupt basketball in Europe after they failed to do it in football they always put their greed over sportsmanship.”
The comment drew support from NBA Fans who believe this is less about growth and more about ownership.
Across the replies, NBA Fans debated what the long-term effect could be. Some argued that NBA backing could raise standards, visibility, and pay. Others pushed back, saying European basketball doesn’t need to be reshaped to fit an American model.
A lot of NBA Fans also focused on the involvement of major football owners. To them, that detail reinforced the fear that business goals are driving the project more than love for the sport.
What stood out most was how protective NBA Fans became of European history. Even those based outside Europe talked about tradition, rivalries, and structures that took decades to build. They questioned whether any billion-dollar estimate could replace that.
As more clubs and investors circle the idea, NBA Fans are making one thing clear. This move is being watched closely. And not everyone is buying the promise.
