Daniel Levy Challenges Spurs Owners for NBA London Franchise Rights
Key Points
- Daniel Levy departed his role as Spurs executive chairman in September 2025 after nearly 25 years in the position.
- The Checketts family, who own Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake and NHL's St. Louis Blues, lead a competing consortium with the Lewis and Eccles families.
- London is the most highly prized of 12 new NBA Europe franchises, with the NBA seeking to generate billions of dollars from team sales.
Competing Bids for European Expansion Rights
Levy's exit from Spurs in September 2025 was officially characterized as a "stepped down" announcement, though reporting indicated the decision was made without his choice. His subsequent involvement in the NBA London bid marks a significant pivot into European basketball expansion at a time when wealthy American families and investors are increasingly acquiring stakes in British sports teams, particularly in football.
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The Checketts family brings established sports ownership credentials to their consortium. Real Salt Lake competes in Major League Soccer, while the St. Louis Blues operate in the NHL. The Eccles family's portfolio includes minority stakes in two European football clubs across different countries, adding continental sports experience to the group.
The NBA's European expansion represents one of the league's most ambitious international growth initiatives. With 12 new franchises across major European cities, the league is positioning itself for substantial market penetration across the continent. London's status as the most sought-after location reflects the city's size, commercial appeal, and existing basketball infrastructure.
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The auction process for these franchises is moving rapidly, with completed transactions anticipated within weeks. This timeline suggests that ownership decisions for the League's European expansion teams will be finalized before the end of the current calendar period, determining which consortiums and individuals will control the newly established franchises across the continent.
Sources: Sky Sports and other international news outlets.
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