Arora is the same investor who fronted the group that bought English cricket’s most lucrative Hundred competition franchise. Now he is turning to basketball, betting that London will anchor the NBA’s long-anticipated move across the Atlantic.
The Bid And The Backers
The London team is considered among the most prized assets in the proposed NBA Europe league, which the NBA has targeted to launch in the latter half of 2027. The inaugural season is slated to feature 16 teams, positioning London as a flagship market in a continent where basketball fandom is deep but top-tier club competition outside the EuroLeague has historically lagged.
Sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because the sale discussions remain ongoing. The figure of more than $1 billion would rank among the largest expansion-team purchases in any major league globally, underscoring the premium investors are placing on a foothold in European basketball’s commercial hub.
From Cricket’s Hundred To The Hardwood
Arora’s track record in English sport gives the bid credibility. His consortium previously acquired the Hundred cricket franchise — the England and Wales Cricket Board’s short-format competition — in a deal that valued the property at the top of that market. Applying that playbook to basketball, Arora is betting that a London NBA side can command broadcast, sponsorship, and venue revenue comparable to established European football clubs.
The crossover is significant. The Hundred attracted fresh capital into cricket by packaging a new, TV-friendly product for investors who had previously sat outside the sport. NBA Europe represents a similar proposition: a globally recognized brand entering a market with underdeveloped elite club infrastructure.
What Happens Next
The NBA still must finalize the structural blueprint for NBA Europe — team ownership terms, salary framework, broadcast rights distribution, and scheduling coordination with the existing NBA calendar. Arora’s consortium is positioning early, but the league has not confirmed franchise ownership for any of the 16 proposed slots.
Watch for rival bids from European football club owners and sovereign-backed funds, both of whom have been linked to NBA Europe interest. The 2027 launch window leaves roughly a year for the league to lock in owners, venues, and broadcast partners before a credible tip-off. London’s bid may be the first headline number, but it almost certainly will not be the last.
— James Okafor, sports desk, AXO News