The National Basketball Association is exploring the possibility of launching a European league with world basketball governing body FIBA as its partner, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said on Thursday.

The NBA is the top league in the world, comprising teams from the US and Canada. Europe's best teams currently compete in the EuroLeague, which was started by Fiba but has been run by Euroleague Basketball since 2000. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said: "We feel now is the time to move to that next stage.

A new team could emerge in the Paris market, owned by Qatar Sports Investments, which owns soccer giant Paris Saint-Germain. The 2024 Olympic host city already counts as its own Paris Basketball, which plays in the French national league and the EuroLeague, and has home games at both of the city’s large basketball arenas.