New EuroLeague Team Incoming? US Report Reveals Major Shakeup in European Basketball as Italian Club Gets Green Light

According to US media outlet Front Office Sports, Italian side Napoli Basket are set to receive official confirmation of their admission into the EuroLeague within the next 90 days. Currently competing in Serie A and the EuroCup, Napoli received conditional approval back in August and are now just one step away from securing full membership among Europe's elite.

Club president and owner Matt Rizzetta is actively working alongside municipal authorities in Naples on the construction of a state-of-the-art arena near the Amalfi Coast.

The planned venue is being designed to meet the highest EuroLeague and NBA Europe standards, representing one of the club's strongest arguments in securing a multi-year license.

This development comes as EuroLeague team owners turned down an initial partnership proposal from the NBA, concluding that freezing expansion would hinder the growth of the competition.

The EuroLeague is planning to expand to 24 teams by the 2027/28 season. Alongside Napoli, 11 other clubs—including Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet and Partizan—have expressed strong interest in securing franchise status.

Led from the bench by veteran tactician Jasmin Repeša, Napoli put together a formidable roster this season. The squad was bolstered by the arrivals of Zach Seljaas, Jeff Dowtin, Guglielmo Caruso, Marco Spissu, John Petrucelli, Markel Brown, and Kaleb Tarczewski, sending a clear message about their high ambitions both domestically and on the European stage.

In the opening round of the EuroCup, the Italian club made an immediate statement by blowing past Budućnost in Podgorica.