The NBA has hired Arturas Karnisovas as a consultant for its planned NBA Europe league Karnisovas, who most recently ran the front office of the Chicago Bulls, will advise Adam Silver on governance, game rules and talent recruitment for the new venture.

The former Lithuanian star will help develop pathways for players entering NBA Europe and potentially transitioning to the NBA. He will also serve as a liaison between the NBA, NBA Europe teams and FIBA, the international governing body partnering with Silver on the launch.

Karnisovas won two Olympic bronze medals with Lithuania and played professionally across Europe in the 1990s. He later worked as an assistant general manager with the Denver Nuggets, where he helped scout Nikola Jokic, before taking over the Bulls' front office in 2020.

The NBA Board of Governors is scheduled to review a second round of bids from prospective NBA Europe owners Tuesday. Sources said the league and FIBA are making significant progress toward an October 2027 launch, with additional action possible during the board's summer meetings in Las Vegas this week.