The Lewis family, owners of Tottenham Hotspur, are exploring a bid to acquire the London franchise in the proposed NBA Europe competition.
The family is part of a consortium that also includes the Checketts and Eccles families, both of which have experience investing in professional sports, clubs and venues.
The Lewis family owns 70.12% of ENIC, Tottenham’s parent company, which in turn holds an 87.62% stake in the Premier League club. Vivienne Lewis, daughter of Joe Lewis, and her son-in-law Nick Beucher are among those representing the family.
The Checketts family brings significant basketball and U.S. sports experience to the group. David Checketts previously served as general manager of the Utah Jazz and president of the New York Knicks, while the family has also owned MLS club Real Salt Lake and the NHL’s St. Louis Blues.
The Eccles family is another investor in the consortium. It has stakes in English Championship club Burnley and Spanish side Espanyol, as well as experience in sports venues and events, including the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and preparations for the 2034 Games in Utah.
London among NBA Europe’s target markets
NBA Europe, a proposed competition being developed by the NBA and FIBA, is scheduled to launch in 2027. The league is expected to feature 12 permanent franchises, alongside four teams qualifying annually.
London is one of 12 cities identified as potential franchise markets, alongside Manchester, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Munich, Athens, Istanbul, Rome and Milan.
The London franchise is already attracting major financial interest. A consortium led by technology billionaire Nikesh Arora is reportedly prepared to offer more than $1 billion for the team. Battersea Power Station has also emerged as a potential location for a new arena.
For the Lewis family, an investment in NBA Europe would represent a significant expansion beyond football and Tottenham, giving the ownership group a direct presence in one of the world’s most valuable basketball markets.
Tottenham’s ownership has faced a challenging period on the sporting side. The club finished 17th in the Premier League last season for the second consecutive year, although it won the Europa League in 2025 — one of only two major trophies secured during ENIC’s ownership, alongside the 2008 League Cup.
The potential NBA Europe investment would therefore mark a notable strategic move for the Lewis family as it looks to build a broader sports portfolio in London and beyond.