The NBA is planning to sell Basketball Africa League franchises, creating permanent teams to boost infrastructure, investment and player development, marking a major shift away from its current format and a look towards the league's global expansion strategy.
Last Updated on
October 5, 2025
Over the past week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the league plans to transition the Basketball Africa League into a franchise-based competition. This shift would replace the current qualification format with 12 permanent teams competing annually across various African markets.
Speaking at the recent Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated the following:
"We see an amazing opportunity to build the sport there, to build an arena infrastructure," Silver said.
Each BAL franchise could be anchored to a specific market and hold responsibility for developing its own home arena. The NBA believes this model will strengthen business operations and promote long-term investment in African basketball infrastructure, maximising revenue streams while creating stability for teams and players alike.
This new format will be a significant departure from the BAL's existing domestic performance-based (and somewhat merit-based) qualification system. The BAL's current format closely mirrors the continental competition structure of international club basketball, with clubs qualifying through their domestic championships.
However, instead of teams earning spots through "national" league success, under the new system, permanent franchises will secure guaranteed participation every season, without the risk of losing their spot in the "tournament" the following year. This change reflects the NBA's broader global ambitions, which also include discussions regarding the forthcoming NBA Europe "league," which is rumoured to tip off in 2027.
Silver called Africa a unique opportunity to build arenas, improve coaching networks and elevate basketball's global presence. Founded in 2019, the BAL tipped off its inaugural season in 2021, with its original launch date delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
Earlier this year, the BAL concluded its fifth campaign and has quickly grown into a platform for identifying talent across Africa, including some potential future NBA stars, such as South Sudan's Khaman Maluach. The 2025 NBA Draft pick played in the BAL (and then participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics) before heading to Duke University.
Africa already boasts a wealth of NBA talent, including Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid, Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam, and Congolese-born Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who has been embroiled in a contract extension dispute all summer long.
Another BAL standout, Thierry Darlan, recently made history as the first G League player to sign with a college. His story is yet another example of how the BAL can serve as a launching pad and a bridge to higher opportunities.
Several teams that have played in the BAL have previously struggled with payment issues, despite offering players modest four-figure salaries. However, NBA executives insist international partnerships and BAL's structured investment can generate sustainable revenue over the next decade.
If successful, the BAL's franchise transition could reshape professional basketball across Africa. Permanent teams would foster community loyalty, create stronger brands and attract larger corporate sponsorship opportunities.
For the NBA, Africa remains both a development hub and a significant growth frontier for global basketball expansion.
[Photography Courtesy of The Basketball Africa League]
