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EuroLeague facts for kids

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Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.svg
Organising body Euroleague Basketball
Founded FIBA era
14 December 1957; 67 years ago (1957-12-14)
Euroleague Basketball era
9 June 2000; 24 years ago (2000-06-09)
First season FIBA European Champions Cup
1958
FIBA European League
1991–92
FIBA EuroLeague
1996–97
FIBA SuproLeague
2000–01
Euroleague
2000–01
EuroLeague
2016–17
Region Europe
Number of teams 18
Level on pyramid 1
Current champions Turkey Fenerbahçe (2nd title)
(2024-25)
Most championships Spain Real Madrid (11 titles)
2024–25 EuroLeague

The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. The league is widely recognised as the top-tier men's league in Europe. The league consists of 18 teams, of which 16 are given long-term licences and wild cards, making the league a semi-closed league. The league was first organized by FIBA in 1958, subsequently by ULEB in 2000 and then solely by Euroleague Basketball.

The competition was introduced in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup (renamed the FIBA EuroLeague in 1996), which operated under FIBA's umbrella until Euroleague Basketball was created for the 2000–01 season. The FIBA European Champions Cup and the EuroLeague are considered to be the same competition, with the change of name being simply a re-branding. Since 2010, it has been sponsored by Turkish Airlines.

The EuroLeague is one of the most popular indoor sports leagues in the world, with an average attendance of 10,383 for league matches in the 2023–24 season. This was the fifth-highest of any professional indoor sports league in the world (the highest outside the United States), and the second-highest of any professional basketball league in the world, only behind the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The EuroLeague title has been won by 22 clubs, 14 of which have won it more than once. The most successful club in the competition is Real Madrid, with 11 titles.

History

The FIBA European Champions Cup was originally established by FIBA and it operated from 1958 until the summer of 2000, concluding with the 1999–00 season. Euroleague Basketball was created after the end of the FIBA European Champions Cup.

FIBA had previously used the flying pigeon name for the competition since 1996 but had never trademarked the name. As FIBA had no legal recourse on the usage of the name, it started a new league named the FIBA SuproLeague. The following 2000–2001 season started with two top European professional club basketball competitions: FIBA SuproLeague (renamed from FIBA EuroLeague) and Euroleague.

Top clubs were split between the two leagues: Panathinaikos, Maccabi Tel Aviv, CSKA Moscow and Efes Pilsen stayed with FIBA, while Olympiacos, Kinder Bologna, Real Madrid Teka, FC Barcelona, Paf Wennington Bologna, Žalgiris Kaunas, Benetton Treviso, AEK and Tau Cerámica joined Euroleague Basketball.

In May 2001, Europe had two continental champions, Maccabi of the FIBA SuproLeague and Kinder Bologna of the Euroleague. Both organizations realized the need to come up with a unified competition and Euroleague Basketball negotiated terms and dictated proceedings which FIBA agreed to their terms. As a result, European club competition was fully integrated under Euroleague Basketball's umbrella and teams that competed in the FIBA SuproLeague during the 2000–01 season joined it as well.

The authority in European professional basketball was divided over club-country lines. FIBA stayed in charge of national team competitions (like the FIBA EuroBasket, the FIBA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics), while Euroleague Basketball took over the European professional club competitions. From that point on, FIBA's Korać Cup and Saporta Cup competitions lasted one more season and then Euroleague Basketball launched the ULEB Cup, now known as the EuroCup.

League era

In November 2015, Euroleague Basketball and IMG agreed on a 10-year joint venture. Both Euroleague Basketball and IMG will manage the commercial operation, and the management of all global rights covering both media and marketing. The deal was worth €630 million guaranteed over 10 years, with projected revenues reaching €900 million. Along with the deal the league changed into a true league format, with 16 teams playing each other team in the regular season followed by the playoffs. The A-licensed clubs were assured of participation for the following ten years in the new format. After the new format of the EuroLeague and FIBA implementing national team windows, a conflict between the two organizations emerged. EuroLeague has been criticised by FIBA as well as several national federations for creating a 'closed league' and ignoring the principle of meritocracy. In July 2019, EuroLeague announced that from the 2019–20 season there will be no direct access to the league through domestic leagues anymore.

Title sponsorship

Since July 2010, Euroleague has been sponsored by Turkish Airlines. In a five-year €15 million deal, starting in the 2010–11 season, the competition was named 'Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball'. The agreement included an option to extend it for another five years. The option was activated in October 2013, extending the sponsorship deal until 2020.

Names of the competition

Panorámica del Fernando Buesa Arena
A EuroLeague game in 2019.
  • FIBA era: (1958–2001)
    • FIBA European Champions Cup: (1958–1991)
    • FIBA European League: (1991–1996)
    • FIBA EuroLeague: (1996–2000)
    • FIBA SuproLeague: (2000–2001)
  • Euroleague Basketball era: (2000–present)
    • Euroleague: (2000–2016)
    • EuroLeague: (2016–present)

*There were two competitions during the 2000–01 season. The SuproLeague, which was organized by FIBA, and the Euroleague, which was organized by Euroleague Basketball.

Competition systems

Tournament systems

The EuroLeague operated under a tournament system, from its inaugural 1958 season, through the 2015–16 season.

  • FIBA European Champions Cup (1958 to 1986–87): The champions of European national domestic leagues, and the then current European Champions Cup title holders (except for the 1986–87 season), competing against each other, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with either a single game final, or a 2-game aggregate score finals (3 games if needed to break a tie).
  • FIBA European Champions Cup (1987–88 to 1990–91): The champions of European national domestic leagues, competing against each other, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
  • FIBA European League (1991–92 to 1995–96): The champions of the European national domestic leagues, the then current European League title holders, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
  • FIBA EuroLeague (1996–97 to 1999–00): The champions of the best European national domestic leagues, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
  • *Euroleague (2000–01): Some of the European national domestic league champions, and some of the runners-up from various national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a best of 5 playoff finals.
  • *FIBA SuproLeague (2000–01): Some of the European national domestic league champions, and some of the runners-up from various national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.
  • Euroleague (2001–02 to 2015–16): The champions of the best European national domestic leagues, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, played in a tournament system. The league culminated with a Final Four.

*There were two competitions during the 2000–01 season. The SuproLeague, which was organized by FIBA, and the Euroleague, which was organized by Euroleague Basketball.

League system

Starting with the 2016–17 season, the EuroLeague operates under a league format.

  • EuroLeague (2016–17 to present): The champions of the best European national domestic leagues, along with some of the other biggest teams from the most important national domestic leagues, playing in a true European-wide league system format. The league culminates with a Final Four.

Format

Forum Assago Euroleague Final Four 2014
The setting of the 2014 EuroLeague Final Four in Milan

Starting with the 2016–17 season, the EuroLeague is made up of 18 teams, with each playing every other team twice (once at home and once away) in a double round robin league regular season, for a total of 34 games played by each team.

The top eight placed teams at the end of the regular season advance to playoffs, each playing a five-game playoff series against a single opponent. The regular season standings are used to determine which teams play each other, and in each pairing the higher placed team has home-court advantage in the series, playing three of the five games at home. The winners of each of the four playoff series advance to the Final Four, held at a predetermined site. The Final Four features two semi-finals, a third place game, and the championship game, all on the same weekend.

Each team plays a maximum 41 games per season: 34 in the regular season, a maximum of 5 during the playoffs, and 2 in the Final Four.

Qualification

Currently (and since the suspension of Russian teams because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine), 12 out of the 18 EuroLeague places are held by licensed clubs that have long-term licenses with Euroleague Basketball, and are members of the Shareholders Executive Board. These twelve licensed clubs are:

  • Turkey Anadolu Efes
  • France ASVEL
  • Spain Baskonia
  • Germany Bayern Munich
   
  • Spain FC Barcelona
  • Turkey Fenerbahçe
  • Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv
  • Italy Olimpia Milano
   

The remaining six EuroLeague places are held by associated clubs that have annual licences, of which one has a two-year wild card, three have one-year wild-cards and two are the finalists of the previous season's 2nd-tier European competition, the EuroCup. From the 2020–21 season, however, if the better of the two teams from the EuroCup makes it to the playoffs, it keeps the place for the following year.

European professional basketball club rankings

Current clubs

These are the teams that participate in the 2024–25 EuroLeague season: 2024–25 EuroLeague

Results

  1. 1958–2001: FIBA European Champions Cup
  2. 2001–Ongoing: EuroLeague
# Year Finalists Semi-finalists
Champion Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
1 1958
Details
Soviet Union
Rīgas ASK
170–152
(86–81 / 71–84)
Bulgaria
Academic
Spain Real Madrid and Hungary Budapesti Honvéd
2 1958–59
Details
Soviet Union
Rīgas ASK
148–125
(79–58 / 67–69)
Bulgaria
Academic
Poland Lech Poznań Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia OKK Beograd
3 1959–60
Details
Soviet Union
Rīgas ASK
130–113
(61–51 / 69–62)
Soviet Union
Dinamo Tbilisi
Czechoslovakia Slovan Orbis Praha and Poland Polonia Warszawa
4 1960–61
Details
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
148–128
(87–62 / 66–61)
Soviet Union
Rīgas ASK
Romania CCA București and Spain Real Madrid
5 1961–62
Details
Soviet Union
Dinamo Tbilisi
90–83 Spain
Real Madrid
Soviet Union CSKA Moscow and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia AŠK Olimpija
6 1962–63
Details
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
259–240
(86–69 / 91–74 / 99–80)
Spain
Real Madrid
Soviet Union Dinamo Tbilisi and Czechoslovakia Spartak ZJŠ Brno
7 1963–64
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
183–174
(110–99 / 84–64)
Czechoslovakia
Spartak ZJŠ Brno
Italy Simmenthal Milano and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia OKK Beograd
8 1964–65
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
157–150
(88–81 / 76–62)
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia OKK Beograd and Italy Ignis Varese
9 1965–66
Details
Italy
Simmenthal Milano
77–72 Czechoslovakia
Slavia VŠ Praha
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Greece
AEK
10 1966–67
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
91–83 Italy
Simmenthal Milano
Czechoslovakia
Slavia VŠ Praha
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
AŠK Olimpija
11 1967–68
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
98–95 Czechoslovakia
Spartak ZJŠ Brno
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zadar and Italy Simmenthal Milano
12 1968–69
Details
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
103–99 (2 OT's) Spain
Real Madrid
Czechoslovakia Spartak ZJŠ Brno and Belgium Standard Liège
13 1969–70
Details
Italy
Ignis Varese
79–74 Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Spain Real Madrid and Czechoslovakia Slavia VŠ Praha
14 1970–71
Details
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
67–53 Italy
Ignis Varese
Czechoslovakia Slavia VŠ Praha and Spain Real Madrid
15 1971–72
Details
Italy
Ignis Varese
70–69 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Jugoplastika
Greece Panathinaikos and Spain Real Madrid
16 1972–73
Details
Italy
Ignis Varese
71–66 Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Italy Simmenthal Milano and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Crvena zvezda
17 1973–74
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
84–82 Italy
Ignis Varese
France Berck and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Radnički Belgrade
18 1974–75
Details
Italy
Ignis Varese
79–66 Spain
Real Madrid
France Berck and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zadar
19 1975–76
Details
Italy
Mobilgirgi Varese
81–74 Spain
Real Madrid
Italy Birra Forst Cantù and France ASVEL
20 1976–77
Details
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
78–77 Italy
Mobilgirgi Varese
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
Spain
Real Madrid
21 1977–78
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
75–67 Italy
Mobilgirgi Varese
France
ASVEL
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
22 1978–79
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Bosna
96–93 Italy
Emerson Varese
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Spain
Real Madrid
23 1979–80
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
89–85 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Bosna
Italy
Sinudyne Bologna
24 1980–81
Details
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
80–79 Italy
Sinudyne Bologna
Netherlands
Nashua EBBC
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Bosna
25 1981–82
Details
Italy
Squibb Cantù
86–80 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan
Spain
FC Barcelona
26 1982–83
Details
Italy
Ford Cantù
69–68 Italy
Billy Milano
Spain
Real Madrid
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
27 1983–84
Details
Italy
Banco di Roma
79–73 Spain
FC Barcelona
Italy
Jollycolombani Cantù
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Bosna
28 1984–85
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Cibona
87–78 Spain
Real Madrid
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Soviet Union
CSKA Moscow
29 1985–86
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Cibona
94–82 Soviet Union
Žalgiris
Italy
Simac Milano
Spain
Real Madrid
30 1986–87
Details
Italy
Tracer Milano
71–69 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
France
Orthez
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Zadar
31 1987–88
Details
Italy
Tracer Milano
90–84 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan
Greece
Aris
32 1988–89
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Jugoplastika
75–69 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Greece
Aris
Spain
FC Barcelona
33 1989–90
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Jugoplastika
72–67 Spain
FC Barcelona Banca Catalana
France
Limoges CSP
Greece
Aris
34 1990–91
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
POP 84
70–65 Spain
FC Barcelona Banca Catalana
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Italy
Scavolini Pesaro
35 1991–92
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan
71–70 Spain
Montigalà Joventut
Italy
Philips Milano
Spain
Estudiantes Argentaria
36 1992–93
Details
France
Limoges CSP
59–55 Italy
Benetton Treviso
Greece
PAOK
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
37 1993–94
Details
Spain
7up Joventut
59–57 Greece
Olympiacos
Greece
Panathinaikos
Spain
FC Barcelona Banca Catalana
38 1994–95
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
73–61 Greece
Olympiacos
Greece
Panathinaikos
France
Limoges CSP
39 1995–96
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos
67–66 Spain
FC Barcelona Banca Catalana
Russia
CSKA Moscow
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
40 1996–97
Details
Greece
Olympiacos
73–58 Spain
FC Barcelona Banca Catalana
Slovenia
Smelt Olimpija
France
ASVEL
41 1997–98
Details
Italy
Kinder Bologna
58–44 Greece
AEK
Italy
Benetton Treviso
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan Zepter
42 1998–99
Details
Lithuania
Žalgiris
82–74 Italy
Kinder Bologna
Greece
Olympiacos
Italy
Teamsystem Bologna
43 1999–00
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos
73–67 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Turkey
Efes Pilsen
Spain
FC Barcelona
44 2000–01
Details
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
81–67 Greece
Panathinaikos
Turkey
Efes Pilsen
Russia
CSKA Moscow
45 2000–01
Details
Italy
Kinder Bologna
3–2
play-off
Spain
Tau Cerámica
Italy Paf Wennington Bologna and Greece AEK
46 2001–02
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos
89–83 Italy
Kinder Bologna
Israel Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and Italy Benetton Treviso
47 2002–03
Details
Spain
FC Barcelona
76–65 Italy
Benetton Treviso
Italy
Montepaschi Siena
Russia
CSKA Moscow
48 2003–04
Details
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
118–74 Italy
Skipper Bologna
Russia
CSKA Moscow
Italy
Montepaschi Siena
49 2004–05
Details
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
90–78 Spain
Tau Cerámica
Greece
Panathinaikos
Russia
CSKA Moscow
50 2005–06
Details
Russia
CSKA Moscow
73–69 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Spain
Tau Cerámica
Spain
Winterthur FC Barcelona
51 2006–07
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos
93–91 Russia
CSKA Moscow
Spain
Unicaja
Spain
Tau Cerámica
52 2007–08
Details
Russia
CSKA Moscow
91–77 Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Italy
Montepaschi Siena
Spain
Tau Cerámica
53 2008–09
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos
73–71 Russia
CSKA Moscow
Spain
Regal FC Barcelona
Greece
Olympiacos
54 2009–10
Details
Spain
Regal FC Barcelona
86–68 Greece
Olympiacos
Russia
CSKA Moscow
Serbia
Partizan
55 2010–11
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos
78–70 Israel
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Italy
Montepaschi Siena
Spain
Real Madrid
56 2011–12
Details
Greece
Olympiacos
62–61 Russia
CSKA Moscow
Spain
FC Barcelona Regal
Greece
Panathinaikos
57 2012–13
Details
Greece
Olympiacos
100–88 Spain
Real Madrid
Russia
CSKA Moscow
Spain
FC Barcelona Regal
58 2013–14
Details
Israel
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
98–86 (OT) Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
FC Barcelona
Russia
CSKA Moscow
59 2014–15
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
78–59 Greece
Olympiacos
Russia
CSKA Moscow
Turkey
Fenerbahçe Ülker
60 2015–16
Details
Russia
CSKA Moscow
101–96 (OT) Turkey
Fenerbahçe
Russia
Lokomotiv Kuban
Spain
Laboral Kutxa
61 2016–17
Details
Turkey
Fenerbahçe
80–64 Greece
Olympiacos
Russia
CSKA Moscow
Spain
Real Madrid
62 2017–18
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
85–80 Turkey
Fenerbahçe Doğuş
Lithuania
Žalgiris
Russia
CSKA Moscow
63 2018–19
Details
Russia
CSKA Moscow
91–83 Turkey
Anadolu Efes
Spain
Real Madrid
Turkey
Fenerbahçe Beko
- 2019–20
Details
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
64 2020–21
Details
Turkey
Anadolu Efes
86–81 Spain
FC Barcelona
Italy
AX Armani Exchange Milan
Russia
CSKA Moscow
65 2021–22
Details
Turkey
Anadolu Efes
58–57 Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
FC Barcelona
Greece
Olympiacos
66 2022–23
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
79–78 Greece
Olympiacos
France
Monaco
Spain
FC Barcelona
67 2023–24
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos AKTOR
95–80 Spain
Real Madrid
Greece
Olympiacos
Turkey
Fenerbahçe Beko
68 2024–25
Details
Turkey
Fenerbahçe Beko
81–70 France
Monaco
Greece
Olympiacos
Greece
Panathinaikos AKTOR

Team statistics

Titles by club

Rank Club Titles Runner-up Champion years
1 Spain Real Madrid 11 10 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1994–95, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2022–23
2 Soviet Union Russia CSKA Moscow 8 6 1960–61, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1970–71, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2015–16, 2018–19
3 Greece Panathinaikos 7 1 1995–96, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2023–24
4 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 6 9 1976–77, 1980–81, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2013–14
5 Italy Varese 5 5 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76
6 Greece Olympiacos 3 6 1996–97, 2011–12, 2012–13
7 Italy Olimpia Milano 3 2 1965–66, 1986–87, 1987–88
8 Soviet Union Rīgas ASK 3 1 1958, 1958–59, 1959–60
9 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Split 3 1 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91
10 Spain Barcelona 2 6 2002–03, 2009–10
11 Italy Virtus Bologna 2 3 1997–98, 2000–01
12 Turkey Fenerbahçe 2 2 2016–17, 2024–25
13 Turkey Anadolu Efes 2 1 2020–21, 2021–22
14 Italy Cantù 2 1981–82, 1982–83
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Cibona 2 1984–85, 1985–86
16 Soviet Union Dinamo Tbilisi 1 1 1961–62
Spain Joventut Badalona 1 1 1993–94
Lithuania Žalgiris 1 1 1998–99
19 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bosna 1 1978–79
Italy Virtus Roma 1 1983–84
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Partizan 1 1991–92
France Limoges CSP 1 1992–93
23 Bulgaria Academic 2
Czechoslovakia Brno 2
Italy Treviso 2
Spain Baskonia 2
27 Czechoslovakia USK Praha 1
Greece AEK 1
Italy Fortitudo Bologna 1

Titles by nation

Rank Country Club Titles Runners-up
1. Spain Spain Real Madrid 11 10
FC Barcelona 2 6
Joventut Badalona 1 1
Baskonia 2
4 clubs 14 19
2. Italy Italy
Varese 5 5
Olimpia Milano 3 2
Virtus Bologna 2 3
Cantù 2
Virtus Roma 1
Treviso 2
Fortitudo Bologna 1
7 clubs 13 13
3. Greece Greece Panathinaikos 7 1
Olympiacos 3 6
AEK 1
3 clubs 10 8
4. Soviet Union Soviet Union CSKA Moscow 4 3
Rīgas ASK 3 1
Dinamo Tbilisi 1 1
Žalgiris - 1
4 clubs 8 6
5. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia Split 3 1
Cibona 2
Bosna 1
Partizan 1
4 clubs 7 1
6. Israel Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 6 9
7. Russia Russia CSKA Moscow 4 3
Turkey Turkey Fenerbahçe 2 2
Anadolu Efes 2 1
2 clubs 4 3
9. France France Limoges CSP 1
Lithuania Lithuania Žalgiris 1
11. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Brno 2
USK Praha 1
2 clubs 0 3
12. Bulgaria Bulgaria Academic 2

Records

  • Real Madrid has been the most successful team, having won the competition a record eleven times.
  • Split (1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91), is the only team to have won the competition three times in a row in the modern EuroLeague Final Four era (1987–88 season to present).
  • Rīgas ASK, as a Soviet League club in the late 1950s and early 1960s (1958, 1958–59, 1959–60), is the only team to have won the competition three times in a row in the pre-EuroLeague Final Four era.
  • Real Madrid (1963–64, 1964–65) & (1966–67, 1967–68), along with Varese (1971–72, 1972–73) & (1974–75, 1975–76), are the only teams to have won the European Championship twice in a row on two occasions in the pre-modern EuroLeague Final Four era.
  • Cantù (1981–82, 1982–83), Cibona (1984–85, 1985–86), and Olimpia Milano (1986–87, 1987–88), are the other three teams to have won the European Championship twice in a row (only for one time) in the pre-modern EuroLeague Final Four era.
  • Maccabi Tel Aviv (2003–04, 2004–05), Olympiacos (2011–12, 2012–13), and Anadolu Efes (2020–21, 2021–22) are the only teams to have won the EuroLeague twice in a row, becoming back-to-back EuroLeague champions in the Euroleague Basketball era (2000–01 season to present).
  • Fenerbahçe are the only team which stayed undefeated at home after a 30-game regular season and secured the best record after a regular season (25–5) under the new format (2016–17 season to present). They are also the earliest EuroLeague Playoffs qualifiers ever in the modern EuroLeague era.
  • Istanbul is the only city from which nine clubs have played in the competition: Beşiktaş, Darüşşafaka, Eczacıbaşı, Efes, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Istanbul Technical University, Modaspor, and Ülker have participated in the EuroLeague.
  • Although Israel is located in the Middle East, its teams play in the EuroLeague, as its national federation is a member of FIBA Europe and its top professional league is a member of ULEB. Similarly, the Israel Football Association is a member of UEFA, enabling its national team and clubs to play in UEFA competitions.
  • In a small area of less than 40 km2 (25 mi2), north of Milan, there are 3 clubs that have won a total of 10 FIBA European Champions' Cups, and played in a total of 16 finals: Pallacanestro Varese (5), Olimpia Milano (3) and Cantù (2).
  • The record score differential for a EuroLeague Finals game was achieved at the 2004 Finals, in Tel Aviv, where the home club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, defeated Skipper Bologna, by a score of 118–74 (a 44-point difference).
  • A crowd of 22,567, which filled Belgrade Arena on 5 March 2009, for a 2008–09 season Top 16 game between Partizan and Panathinaikos is the league's official all seated attendance record. Before that, a crowd of 18,500 all seated fans occurred at a Panathinaikos home game at the Olympic Indoor Hall, in Athens, against Tau Cerámica, on 12 April 2006, during the 2005–06 third quarterfinal playoff game.
  • The most points ever scored in a single game by an individual in the league's overall history (since 1958), is 99 points, by Radivoj Korać of OKK Beograd, on 14 January 1965, during the 1964–65 season, in a game against Alvik.
  • The most points ever scored in a single game by an individual in the league since Euroleague Basketball has owned the competition (2000), is 50 points, by Nigel Hayes of Fenerbahçe, on 29 March 2024, during the 2023–24 season, in a game against Alba Berlin.
  • The most points ever scored in a single EuroLeague Finals game by an individual is 47 points, in the 1978–79 season, by Žarko Varajić of Bosna, in a game against Emerson Varese on 5 April 1979.

EuroLeague awards

Statistical leaders

All-time leaders

Since the beginning of the 2000–01 season (Euroleague Basketball era):

Average Accumulated
Games Played - Spain Sergio Llull 447
Games Started - Greece Kostas Papanikolaou 339
Minutes Played United States Anthony Parker 35:00 Greece Kostas Sloukas 9804:07
Points United States Alphonso Ford 22.22 United States Mike James 5276
Rebounds United States Joseph Blair 10.05 Lithuania Paulius Jankūnas 2010
Assists Greece Nick Calathes 5.8 Greece Nick Calathes 2135
Steals Argentina Manu Ginóbili 2.73 Greece Nick Calathes 460
Blocks Ukraine Grigorij Khizhnyak 3.19 Cape Verde Edy Tavares 472
Index Rating United States Anthony Parker 21.41 France Nando de Colo 5473
Assist-Turnover ratio United States Jerian Grant 3.2 -
Free Τhrows Greece Panagiotis Liadelis 6.74 France Nando de Colo 1181
Free Τhrows % United States Kendrick Nunn 95.9% -
Free Τhrows Attempted Greece Panagiotis Liadelis 7.71 United States Mike James 1452
2-Pointers Latvia Kaspars Kambala 6.55 Czech Republic Jan Veselý 1567
2-Pointers % United States Azerbaijan Donta Hall 74.1% -
2-Pointers Attempted United States Alphonso Ford 12.02 Czech Republic Jan Veselý 2537
3-Pointers United States Justin Dentmon 2.88 Spain Sergio Llull 686
3-Pointers % Croatia Fran Pilepić 50.45% -
3-Pointers Attempted Russia Alexey Shved 7.07 Spain Sergio Llull 2076
Field Goals United States Alphonso Ford 8.11 United States Mike James 1752
Field Goals % Cape Verde Edy Tavares 72.98% -
Field Goals Attempted United States Alphonso Ford 16.09 United States Mike James 4178
True Shooting % United States Azerbaijan Donta Hall 74.3% -
Double doubles - Turkey Mirsad Türkcan 50
Triple doubles - Croatia Nikola Vujčić 2
Fouls Drawn Serbia Dragan Lukovski 6.04 Greece Vassilis Spanoulis 1583
Fouls Committed United States Italy Shaun Stonerook 3.73 Czech Republic Jan Veselý 1081
Blocks Against Latvia Kaspars Kambala 0.81 Greece Vassilis Spanoulis 231
Turnovers United States Will Solomon 3.13 Greece Vassilis Spanoulis 1087

Individual performances

EuroLeague versus NBA games

Attendances

Season averages

All averages include playoffs and Final Four games.

Season Total gate Games Average Change High avg. Team Low avg. Team
2008–09 1,263,578 188 6,721 11,770 Greece Panathinaikos 2,460 Greece Panionios On Telecoms
2009–10 1,182,046 186 6,355 –5.4% 11,188 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 1,440 Turkey Fenerbahçe Ülker
2010–11 1,383,449 185 7,478 +17.7% 13,926 Turkey Fenerbahçe Ülker 3,180 Russia Khimki
2011–12 1,305,215 178 7,333 –1.9% 13,107 Lithuania Žalgiris 3,283 Poland Asseco Prokom
2012–13 1,867,145 253 7,366 +0.5% 13,425 Lithuania Žalgiris 3,110 Poland Asseco Prokom
2013–14 2,063,600 248 8,130 +10.4% 12,578 Serbia Partizan NIS 3,960 Ukraine Budivelnyk
2014–15 2,013,305 251 8,184 +0.1% 14,483 Serbia Crvena Zvezda Telekom 1,949 Poland PGE Turów
2015–16 1,832,920 250 7,332 –10.4% 11,060 Israel Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 2,809 Russia Khimki
2016–17 2,194,238 259 8,472 +5.4% 11,633 Spain Baskonia 3,734 Russia UNICS
2017–18 2,282,297 260 8,780 +3.6% 13,560 Lithuania Žalgiris 3,900 Turkey Anadolu Efes
2018–19 2,153,445 260 8,282 –6.0% 14,808 Lithuania Žalgiris 2,691 Turkey Darüşşafaka Tekfen
2019–20 2,138,504 222 8,588 +3.7% 14,221 Lithuania Žalgiris 4,299 Russia Zenit

Historic average attendances

This list shows the averages attendances of each team since the 16-team regular season was established in 2016. All averages include playoffs games.

Season ALB EFS ASV BAM BAR BKN BAY BUD CZV CSK DSK FNB GAL GCA KHI MTA MGA MON MIL OLY PAO PAR RMA UNK VAL VIR ZAL ZEN
2016–17 5,320 6,415 4,931 11,633 9,818 8,293 4,677 11,219 4,806 10,888 9,483 9,360 11,172 10,312 3,734 11,418
2017–18 3,900 6,188 5,679 11,351 6,277 8,211 11,566 6,022 10,731 7,272 7,472 8,913 13,005 10,030 6,753 13,560
2018–19 8,247 5,793 11,138 4,349 4,792 7,198 2,691 10,737 4,823 5,502 10,522 8,493 8,203 12,530 9,792 14,808
2019–20 9,930 13,113 5,326 5,977 10,661 4,688 11,744 7,050 9,862 5,189 10,038 8,491 7,287 9,858 9,649 7,433 14,221 4,299
2020–21 Season played under closed doors or limited attendance.
2021–22 3,825 11,876 4,237 5,174 6,885 2,673 6,042 5,545 8,429 3,536 4,893 7,037 3,883 5,943 7,630
2022–23 8,820 13,126 5,301 6,353 8,898 5,549 7,085 10,465 10,400 4,392 9,270 10,449 6,173 17,938 8,128 6,064 6,169 14,839
2023–24 9,406 12,471 7,565 6,444 9,970 6,218 17,842 10,065 * 4,052 10,051 11,535 15,299 19,916 8,914 6,369 8,033 14,773

Individual game highest attendance

Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Arena Date Ref
1 Serbia Partizan 63–56 Greece Panathinaikos 22,567 Belgrade Arena 5 March 2009 [1]
2 Serbia Partizan 76–67 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 21,367 Belgrade Arena 1 April 2010 [2]
3 Serbia Partizan 56–67 Russia CSKA Moscow 21,352 Belgrade Arena 31 March 2009 [3]

Note: Match between Panathinaikos and Barcelona on 18 April 2013, at OAKA Sports Center, was supposedly watched by about 30,000 spectators. However, it is not included in the table as the official data is 18,300.

As of 4/4/2023 Partizan holds 10 games in top 10 most attended games.

Media coverage

The EuroLeague season is broadcast on television, and can be seen in up to 201 countries and territories. It can be seen by up to 245 million (800 million via satellite) households weekly in China.

EuroLeague basketball has been televised in the United States through the ESPN family of networks since 2023, starting with the playoffs of the 2022-2023 season. It was also televised in the United States and Canada on NBA TV and available online through ESPN3 (in English) and ESPN Deportes (in Spanish) until the 2017–2018 season. Starting with the 2017-2018 Final Four playoffs, and continuing into the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons, the coverage moved to FloSports, before returning later to the ESPN networks.

The EuroLeague Final Four is broadcast on television in up to 213 countries and territories. The EuroLeague also has its own internet pay TV service, called EuroLeague TV.

Broadcasters

This is a partial list of television broadcasters that provide coverage of the EuroLeague.

Country/Region Broadcaster Language Free/Pay TV
International EuroLeague TV (online internet broadcast) English Pay
SportKlub Bosnian
Croatian
Montenegrin
Macedonian
Serbian
Slovenian
Pay
Go3 Sport Estonian
Latvian
Lithuanian
Pay
TV3
 Spain Movistar Plus+, Deportes por Movistar Plus+ Spanish Pay
 United States ESPN English Pay
 France SKWEEK TV French Pay
 Monaco
 Germany Telekom Sport, also known as MagentaSport German Pay
 Greece Novasports Greek Pay
 Italy Sky Sport Arena Italian Pay
DAZN
 Israel Sport 5 Hebrew Pay
 Turkey S Sport Plus Turkish Pay

Sponsors

Title sponsor
Premium partners
  • 7DAYS
  • Adidas
  • Tempobet (only in Germany)
  • Nesine (only in Turkey)
  • bwin (Greece and Spain)

Source:

See also

  • European professional club basketball system
  • All-EuroLeague Team
  • EuroLeague Final Four

Men's competitions

  • EuroCup Basketball
  • FIBA Champions League
  • FIBA Europe Cup

Women's competitions

  • EuroLeague Women
  • EuroCup Women
  • FIBA Europe SuperCup Women

IWBF Basketball

  • IWBF Champions League
  • EuroCup 1
  • EuroCup 2
  • EuroCup 3

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Euroliga para niños

kids search engine
EuroLeague Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.