NEW YORK (AFP) — The National Basketball Association (NBA) and International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced Monday they would begin prospecting teams and owners as part of their project of creating a pan-European men’s basketball league.

The two bodies said in a statement they would “in January move forward in their joint exploration” of creating a new professional league in Europe by “engaging prospective teams and ownership groups in the process to join.”

“Our conversations with various stakeholders in Europe have reinforced our belief that an enormous opportunity exists around the creation of a new league on the continent,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

“Together with FIBA, we look forward to engaging prospective clubs and ownership groups that share our vision for the game’s potential in Europe.”

The statement offered further details of the format the league would take.

In addition to permanent spots, the league “would offer every team in a FIBA-affiliated domestic league in Europe a merit-based pathway to qualify on an annual basis either through FIBA’s Basketball Champions League (BCL) or an end-of-season qualifying tournament.”

The season would also align with the current domestic league and national team schedules to allow players to represent both their clubs and national sides.