Levy and Spurs owners in bidding war for NBA Europe London franchise
As the NBA prepares to sell rights to 12 new European teams, the London franchise has emerged as the focal point of a high-stakes contest between Daniel Levy’s group and a consortium backed by the Lewis family.
Daniel Levy is competing against a consortium that includes the current owners of Tottenham Hotspur, the Lewis family, to secure the London-based franchise in the newly established NBA Europe league. The auction for the expansion teams is underway, with the London slot identified as the most highly prized asset among the 12 new European outfits.
The consortium led by the Lewis family is supported by the Checketts family, who have previously invested in Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake and the National Hockey League’s St Louis Blues. Completing the trio is the Eccles family, who hold shares in Burnley FC and the Spanish side Espanyol, alongside the Checketts.
Levy, who departed his role as Tottenham executive chairman in September 2025 after nearly 25 years, is part of a separate group that includes Liberty Global and MSP Sports Capital, a former backer of McLaren Racing. While official communications stated Levy had stepped down, it was widely understood that the decision was taken out of his hands.
The NBA aims to generate billions of dollars from the sale of these franchise rights, with initial transactions expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. The new league will feature teams in cities including Berlin, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Paris, and Rome, reflecting a broader strategy to expand the sport’s footprint across the continent.
This development aligns with a trend of wealthy US families and investors increasingly buying stakes in UK sports teams, particularly within football. As the auction progresses, the contest between Levy’s consortium and the Lewis-led group highlights the intense interest in establishing a permanent basketball presence in the capital.
