OG Anunoby backs NBA Europe and invests in Camden grassroots court
OG Anunoby, the New York Knicks forward, has invested in the redevelopment of a grassroots basketball court in Camden, London, alongside City Hall, the National Basketball Players' Association (NBPA) and Camden Council, and said the planned NBA Europe league will take basketball in the United Kingdom to "another level" during a visit to his birth city this week.
The NBA Europe project, with a working title of NBA Europe, is planned for launch in October 2027 and is expected to comprise between 12 and 16 teams, with London and Manchester among the cities anticipated to feature. The deadline for final bids to own franchises was in June, and the NBA received bids of between $500m (£372m) and $1bn (£745m) for each target host city; organisers hope identities of teams will begin to be announced this year. "Planning is going really well. We've had an amazing amount of demand in the last couple of months for NBA Europe, particularly as bidding closed," said Laura Pinnell, vice-president of Consumer Group and head of marketing for the NBA across Europe and the Middle East. "I would say the UK is one of the biggest opportunities for us out of the whole project."
Anunoby, a two-time NBA Championship winner who played a starring role in the New York Knicks' first title since 1973, spent time in London during his off-season this week and celebrated with Zohran Mamdani, the Mayor of New York City, after the championship win this summer. He has contributed his own money to the Camden court development and combined with local and player-association partners on the project. The court investment formed part of his activities while in the city.
Anunoby is identified in the article as the standout current player of UK origin in the NBA and is one of four players noted from the United Kingdom, alongside Portland Trail Blazers' Jeremy Sochan, Boston Celtics' Amari Williams and Tobi Lawal, who is set to make his NBA debut this season for the Dallas Mavericks. Commenting on the NBA Europe plans, Anunoby told BBC Sport: "I think it is amazing. Basketball continues to grow, especially here in London and in Manchester. It's exciting and I think it is going to take basketball to another level out here."
League officials say momentum for NBA Europe has been strong since bidding closed, with the competition intended to start in tandem with the 2027-28 NBA season. Pinnell added: "The growth opportunity is incredible and actually a London franchise, there is discussion about a Manchester franchise. All of which are great opportunities for fans and also, youth and participation."
Anunoby also discussed the Knicks' objectives for the coming season, saying: "That's our goal this year." The article notes the NBA has seen eight different champions in as many years and that no team has achieved back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, and when asked which rival poses the biggest threat he replied: "The whole league. It is a very tough league and every team is capable and everyone is a threat."
Organisers aim to begin revealing franchise identities later this year after final bids closed in June, with the league scheduled to launch in October 2027 and to operate alongside the 2027-28 NBA season.