On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams are joined by Richard Gillis, host of the Unofficial Partner podcast, to talk about big news in both the NBA and European sports. The NBA is looking into launching its own league in Europe, one that would blend aspects of major American leagues and also incorporate parts of the European sports culture.

The NBA has been exploring a more comprehensive European strategy for more than a year, including options that included working with the establish EuroLeague, or working in competition with it. The current plan is a hybrid of sorts–one with a set number of permanent new franchises, and slots for EuroLeague teams to qualify into on a yearly basis. Owners discussed the plans at owners meeting in New York City last week, and commissioner Adam Silver spoke publicly about the discussions on Thursday.

The plan would be for the NBA to own about half of the league, with franchise owners holding the rest of the equity. Silver made it clear last week that NBA owners would not own the European clubs themselves, they would be sold to outside groups.

The hosts talk about the cultural differences between U.S. sports and European sports. They include salary caps, regional history and profit motives. Will European fans support this? Who might want to own clubs? And what are the potential hurdles?

They also talk about the various successes and struggles that U.S. leagues have had in their overseas pursuits. The NBA is at an advantage relative to many of its peers because of the sheer popularity of its sport across Europe, both for fans and for participants. Compare that with the NFL, which has neither, and failed to sustain its own European league launched in the 1990s.

They close by pondering the “Why Now?” for the NBA. The league is also considering domestic expansion, but its labor peace and new TV deals have launched a few year stretch of relative stability, a time when leagues typically look toward their longer-term projects.

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