Former Madison Square Garden president Dave Checketts is leading a group of international investors that's working with the NBA to determine whether the league should expand into Europe.

Checketts, who served in the Denver Nuggets front office for parts of two seasons, said he has had several meetings with NBA commissioner David Stern, including one Thursday. Stern has said there might be NBA teams based in Europe by the end of the decade.

"We're really trying to formulate a business plan," Checketts said.

The league is exploring expansion outside the United States as the sport gains a broader international appeal. The NBA this season has 70 players from 33 countries and territories outside the United States, including China's Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, France's Tony Parker of the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and Yugoslavia's Peja Stojakovic of the Sacramento Kings.

"If you look at Checketts' record and his knowledge of sports, he walks on water," said Dean Bonham, a Denver-based consultant who advises professional sports teams. "He's in the top two or three best executives in the world of sports."

"I've had a long-running interest in international basketball, and obviously a close association with David Stern," Checketts said.