Introduction to the Euroleague
A quarter of a century ago, many of the best basketball clubs in Europe were dissatisfied with how the Euroleague at the time was operated and marketed. This version of the Euroleague was managed by companies from FIBA, the global management committee of basketball. The clubs were looking for more control over income, schedules, and media rights.
The Formation of the Current Euroleague
In 2000, a group of clubs founded the current Euroleague under the umbrella of the Union of the European Leagues of Basketball (ULEB). The goal was a professional, commercially successful club competition, similar to the Champions League of football. The organizers could call it "Euroleague" because FIBA had missed the brand.
Who Plays in the Euroleague?
13 of the 20 clubs are now operated by the private company Euroleague Basketball and are constant members – in competition, regardless of their success or its lack in their domestic leagues. Another place is filled by the winner of the Eurocup of the previous season, which is organized by the ULEB. The Euroleague basketball fulfills the remaining openings by publishing "wildcards" and inviting clubs to the competition for a limited period of time.
The Constant Members
The constant members (A-License holders), including clubs such as Real Madrid, Panathinaikos, Fenerbahce, CSKA Moscow, and Bayern Munich, all have a share in the possession of the league and give them a significant impact on the economic and organizational direction. However, CSKA Moscow has been exposed to the game since Russia launched its full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A Team from the United Arab Emirates
As part of his efforts to expand to new markets, the Euroleague gave Dubai Basketball a Wildcard entry over the next five years. Dubai basketball made several factors an attractive addition to the league; It has a modern arena with 17,000 capacities, strong financial support, and offers Euroleague access to the Arab market. Although the UAE club was only founded in 2023, it began playing in the Adriatic Basketball Association (ABA) last season.
Comparison to the NBA
According to the NBA, the Euroleague is the second-best basketball league in the world. However, the basketball played in Euroleague is more tactical, team-oriented, and more intensive. "In contrast to the NBA, every game really counts here," said Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic about the Euroleague. NBA star Luka Doncic pressed a similar feeling after moving from Real Madrid to the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. "The game in Europe is much harder than in the NBA," he said in a podcast in early 2023.
Rules and Game Style
The Euroleague uses FIBA rules, which differ from the NBA. The court is smaller, the playing time is shorter, and there is no defensive three-second rule, which means that the defenders do not have to pull out of the key after three seconds. Therefore, the game in Europe is more compact. There are more set games with blocks and inventory sequences to make room, and fewer individual games than in the NBA.
Player Movement Between Leagues
In the past, many European players have to fight to the NBA after moving. Three of the best-known examples are Juan Carlos Navarro from Spain, Vassilis Spanoulis from Greece, and Serbia’s Milos Teodosic. All three are real Euroleague legends, but none of them could establish themselves in the NBA, and all three returned to Europe after a short time. Now more Europeans play in the NBA than ever before. This can partially be attributed to the high game standard in the Euroleague, which takes the step into the world’s leading league less than before. Conversely, many former NBA players who have referred to the opposite direction have to struggle in the Euroleague. Nevertheless, the Euroleague now offers many former NBA players. The high wages that the Euroleague teams can now pay is certainly appealing – and the fact that good performance in the best basketball competition in Europe can also pave the way for a return to the NBA.
