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EuroLeague: Europe's Hardwood Elite

The definitive guide to the premier professional men's club basketball competition in Europe, exploring its rich legacy and current landscape.

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The Pinnacle of European Basketball

Premier Competition

The EuroLeague stands as the preeminent professional men's club basketball competition within the European continent. It is widely recognized for its elite status and the high caliber of play, representing the pinnacle of European basketball.

Continental Reach

The league comprises 20 teams, with a significant portion holding long-term licenses, establishing a semi-closed league structure. This model ensures a consistent level of competition and brand stability, drawing participants from across Europe and, increasingly, beyond.

Global Recognition

With an average attendance of over 10,000 spectators per game, the EuroLeague ranks among the most popular indoor sports leagues globally. Its second-highest attendance in professional basketball, trailing only the NBA, underscores its international appeal and commercial significance.

Evolution of Excellence

FIBA's Foundation

The competition originated under the auspices of FIBA, launching as the FIBA European Champions Cup in 1958. This foundational era established the tournament's prestige, with teams competing in a knockout format, culminating in either single-game finals or two-game aggregate series.

Transition and Unification

The landscape shifted in 2000 with the creation of Euroleague Basketball. This led to a period of dual competitions (FIBA SuproLeague and Euroleague) before a full integration under Euroleague Basketball's management by 2001. This transition marked a significant move towards a more commercially driven and unified European club basketball system.

  • 1958: Inaugural FIBA European Champions Cup season.
  • 1991-1996: Renamed FIBA European League, adopting a Final Four format.
  • 1996-2000: Competition known as FIBA EuroLeague.
  • 2000-2001: A split season with both FIBA SuproLeague and Euroleague operating concurrently.
  • 2001-Present: Unified under Euroleague Basketball, evolving through various formats including the current league structure.
  • 2010: Turkish Airlines becomes title sponsor, extending the partnership through 2020 and beyond.
  • 2016: Transition to a 16-team league format with long-term licenses.
  • 2019: League becomes effectively closed, removing direct qualification from domestic leagues.
  • 2025: Expansion to 20 teams, including the first non-European team (Dubai), and hosting the Final Four outside Europe (Abu Dhabi).

Modern Era

Since the 2016-17 season, the EuroLeague has operated under a consistent league format. This involves 18 teams competing in a double round-robin regular season, followed by playoffs, culminating in the prestigious Final Four tournament. This structure enhances competitive balance and fan engagement.

Structure of Competition

League Format

The current EuroLeague season features 18 teams. Each team plays every other team twiceโ€”once at home and once awayโ€”in a double round-robin regular season, totaling 34 games per team. This format ensures extensive head-to-head competition.

Playoffs and Finals

The top eight teams from the regular season advance to the playoffs. These are best-of-five series, with the higher-seeded team holding home-court advantage. The four winners proceed to the Final Four, a high-stakes tournament held at a predetermined neutral venue, featuring two semi-finals and the championship game.

Qualification Pathways

Participation is primarily determined by long-term licenses held by 12 clubs. The remaining spots are filled by teams with annual licenses, including wild cards and the finalists of the second-tier EuroCup competition, ensuring a blend of established powerhouses and emerging contenders.

Current Contenders

Team Lineup

The EuroLeague comprises 18 teams, representing a diverse array of European nations and, as of recent expansions, Middle Eastern markets. These clubs are the elite participants vying for continental supremacy.

Team Home city Arena Capacity Last season
Turkey Anadolu Efes Istanbul Basketball Development Center 10,000 6th
Spain Barcelona Barcelona Palau Blaugrana 7,585 5th
Spain Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz Buesa Arena 15,431 14th
Germany Bayern Munich Munich SAP Garden 11,500 9th
Serbia Crvena zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade Belgrade Arena 18,386 10th
United Arab Emirates Dubai Basketball Dubai Coca-Cola Arena 17,000 โ€”
Italy EA7 Emporio Armani Milan Milan Unipol Forum 12,700 11th
Turkey Fenerbahรงe Beko Istanbul รœlker Sports and Event Hall 13,000 1st place, gold medalist(s)
Israel Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Arena Sofia / Menora Mivtachim Arena 12,373 Increase 1st place, gold medalist(s) (EuroCup)
France LDLC ASVEL D%C3%A9cines-Charpieu / Villeurbanne LDLC Arena / Astroballe 12,523 / 5,556 15th
France Monaco Monaco Salle Gaston M%C3%A9decin 5,000
Israel Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv Tel Aviv Menora Mivtachim Arena 10,383 16th
Greece Olympiacos Piraeus Peace and Friendship Stadium 12,300 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Greece Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens Telekom Center Athens 18,300 4th
France Paris Basketball Paris Adidas Arena / Accor Arena 8,000 / 15,705 8th
Serbia Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade Belgrade Arena 18,386
Spain Real Madrid Madrid Movistar Arena 15,000 7th
Spain Valencia Basket Valencia Roig Arena 15,600 Increase 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) (EuroCup)
Italy Virtus Olidata Bologna Bologna Virtus Arena / PalaDozza 9,980 / 5,570 17th
Lithuania %C5%BDalgiris Kaunas %C5%BDalgirio Arena 15,415 13th

Championship Legacy

Most Successful Clubs

The EuroLeague has a storied history of champions, with Real Madrid leading the pack with 11 titles. CSKA Moscow (8 titles) and Panathinaikos (7 titles) are also among the most decorated clubs, reflecting their sustained dominance throughout different eras of European basketball.

Historical Champions

The competition has seen a variety of winners since its inception. The early years were dominated by Soviet and Spanish clubs, while Italian and Greek teams also achieved significant success in later periods. The modern era has seen a broader range of champions, showcasing the evolving competitive landscape.

# Year Finalists Semi-finalists
Champion Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
1 1958 Soviet Union R%C4%ABgas ASK 170โ€“152 Bulgaria Academic Sofia Spain Real Madrid BC and Hungary Budapesti Honv%C3%A9d
2 1958โ€“59 Soviet Union R%C4%ABgas ASK 148โ€“125 Bulgaria Academic Sofia Poland KKS Lech Pozna%C5%84 and Yugoslavia OKK Beograd
3 1959โ€“60 Soviet Union R%C4%ABgas ASK 130โ€“113 Soviet Union BC Dinamo Tbilisi Czechoslovakia Slovan Praha BK and Poland KKS Polonia Warszawa
4 1960โ€“61 Soviet Union CSKA Moscow 148โ€“128 Soviet Union R%C4%ABgas ASK Romania Steaua Bucure%C8%99ti and Spain Real Madrid BC
5 1961โ€“62 Soviet Union BC Dinamo Tbilisi 90โ€“83 Spain Real Madrid BC Soviet Union CSKA Moscow and Yugoslavia KK Olimpija Ljubljana
6 1962โ€“63 Soviet Union CSKA Moscow 259โ€“240 Spain Real Madrid BC Soviet Union BC Dinamo Tbilisi and Czechoslovakia BC Brno
7 1963โ€“64 Spain Real Madrid BC 183โ€“174 Czechoslovakia BC Brno Italy Olimpia Milano and Yugoslavia OKK Beograd
8 1964โ€“65 Spain Real Madrid BC 157โ€“150 Soviet Union CSKA Moscow Yugoslavia OKK Beograd and Italy Pallacanestro Varese
9 1965โ€“66 Italy Olimpia Milano 77โ€“72 Czechoslovakia Slavia V%C5%A0 Praha Soviet Union CSKA Moscow Greece AEK BC
10 1966โ€“67 Spain Real Madrid BC 91โ€“83 Italy Olimpia Milano Czechoslovakia Slavia V%C5%A0 Praha Yugoslavia KK Olimpija Ljubljana
11 1967โ€“68 Spain Real Madrid BC 98โ€“95 Czechoslovakia BC Brno Yugoslavia KK Zadar and Italy Olimpia Milano
12 1968โ€“69 Soviet Union CSKA Moscow 103โ€“99 (2 OT's) Spain Real Madrid BC Czechoslovakia BC Brno and Belgium Standard Li%C3%A8ge
13 1969โ€“70 Italy Pallacanestro Varese 79โ€“74 Soviet Union CSKA Moscow Spain Real Madrid BC and Czechoslovakia Slavia V%C5%A0 Praha
14 1970โ€“71 Soviet Union CSKA Moscow 67โ€“53 Italy Pallacanestro Varese Czechoslovakia Slavia V%C5%A0 Praha and Spain Real Madrid BC
15 1971โ€“72 Italy Pallacanestro Varese 70โ€“69 Yugoslavia KK Split Greece Panathinaikos BC and Spain Real Madrid BC
16 1972โ€“73 Italy Pallacanestro Varese 71โ€“66 Soviet Union CSKA Moscow Italy Olimpia Milano and Yugoslavia Crvena zvezda
17 1973โ€“74 Spain Real Madrid BC 84โ€“82 Italy Pallacanestro Varese France Berck BC and Yugoslavia Radni%C4%8Dki Belgrade
18 1974โ€“75 Italy Pallacanestro Varese 79โ€“66 Spain Real Madrid BC France Berck BC and Yugoslavia KK Zadar
19 1975โ€“76 Italy Pallacanestro Varese 81โ€“74 Spain Real Madrid BC Italy Pallacanestro Cant%C3%B9 and France ASVEL Villeurbanne
20 1975โ€“76 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 78โ€“77 Italy Pallacanestro Varese Soviet Union CSKA Moscow Spain Real Madrid BC
21 1977โ€“78 Spain Real Madrid BC 75โ€“67 Italy Pallacanestro Varese France ASVEL Villeurbanne Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
22 1978โ€“79 Yugoslavia KK Bosna Sarajevo 96โ€“93 Italy Pallacanestro Varese Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Spain Real Madrid BC
23 1979โ€“80 Spain Real Madrid BC 89โ€“85 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Yugoslavia KK Bosna Sarajevo Italy Virtus Bologna
24 1980โ€“81 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 80โ€“79 Italy Virtus Bologna Netherlands Heroes Den Bosch Yugoslavia KK Bosna Sarajevo
25 1981โ€“82 Italy Pallacanestro Cant%C3%B9 86โ€“80 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Yugoslavia Partizan Belgrade Spain FC Barcelona B%C3%A0squet
26 1982โ€“83 Italy Pallacanestro Cant%C3%B9 69โ€“68 Italy Olimpia Milano Spain Real Madrid BC Soviet Union CSKA Moscow
27 1983โ€“84 Italy Virtus Roma 79โ€“73 Spain FC Barcelona B%C3%A0squet Italy Pallacanestro Cant%C3%B9 Yugoslavia KK Bosna Sarajevo
28 1984โ€“85 Yugoslavia Cibona 87โ€“78 Spain Real Madrid Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Soviet Union CSKA Moscow
29 1985โ€“86 Yugoslavia Cibona Zagreb 94โ€“82 Soviet Union BC %C5%BDalgiris Kaunas Italy Olimpia Milano Spain Real Madrid BC
30 1986โ€“87 Italy Olimpia Milano 71โ€“69 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv France %C3%89lan B%C3%A9arnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez Yugoslavia KK Zadar
31 1987โ€“88 Italy Olimpia Milano 90โ€“84 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Yugoslavia Partizan Belgrade Greece Aris Thessaloniki BC
32 1988โ€“89 Yugoslavia KK Split 75โ€“69 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Greece Aris Thessaloniki BC Spain FC Barcelona B%C3%A0squet
33 1989โ€“90 Yugoslavia KK Split 72โ€“67 Spain FC Barcelona B%C3%A0squet France Limoges CSP Greece Aris Thessaloniki BC
34 1990โ€“91 Yugoslavia KK Split 70โ€“65 Spain FC Barcelona B%C3%A0squet Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv Italy Victoria Libertas Pesaro
35 1991โ€“92 Yugoslavia Partizan Belgrade 71โ€“70 Spain Joventut Badalona Italy Olimpia Milano Greece Aris Thessaloniki BC

Partnerships and Growth

Title Sponsorship

Since July 2010, Turkish Airlines has served as the title sponsor for the EuroLeague. This significant partnership, initially a five-year deal valued at โ‚ฌ15 million, has been instrumental in enhancing the league's commercial operations and global visibility, with options for extension reinforcing its long-term commitment.

Commercial Operations

In November 2015, Euroleague Basketball entered into a 10-year joint venture with IMG. This strategic alliance, valued at โ‚ฌ630 million guaranteed, focuses on managing all commercial rights, including media and marketing, thereby driving revenue growth and expanding the league's international footprint.

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References

References

  1.  Season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four games, for different reasons, were played under closed doors and are not included in this table.
  2.  Roca Boys book historic return to EuroLeague Final Four after thriller in Monaco.
  3.  Name Salle Gaston Medecin Alternate: Salle Omnisports Capacity 5,000.
  4.  AS Monaco Salle Gaston Mรƒยฉdecin (capacity 5,000).
A full list of references for this article are available at the EuroLeague Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This content has been generated by an AI model and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on data extracted from Wikipedia and may not reflect the most current information or nuances of the EuroLeague. The information provided is not a substitute for official EuroLeague documentation or professional sports analysis.

This is not professional sports advice. Always consult official sources and qualified experts for definitive information regarding the EuroLeague, its teams, players, or statistics. The creators of this page are not liable for any inaccuracies or omissions, nor for any actions taken based on the information presented herein.