Adam Silver met with leaders from Real Madrid on Thursday in Paris to discuss partnering on the NBA's planned European league. Real Madrid is guaranteed a spot in EuroLeague each year, though its existing license expires in 2026. If Real Madrid were to defect to a new league with the NBA, European sources expect other top clubs to follow.

Silver and his associates met in London this week with representatives from four private equity firms (CVC, RedBird, Bridgepoint and KKR), as well as officials from the Turkish basketball and soccer club Galatasaray.

Silver will also meet with other potential European partners. 

Two sources, in America and Europe, also said the NBA met with German basketball power Alba Berlin to discuss, among other topics, its potential joining of Silver’s league. 

Sources say the four key teams to watch as potential defectors are Real Madrid, Barcelona, ASVEL Basket and Fenerbahce.