EuroLeague

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Template:Short description Template:For-multi Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox basketball league

The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. The league is widely recognised as the top-tier and the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The league consists of 20 teams, of which 16 are given long-term licences and wild cards,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> making the league a semi-closed league.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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. In years 2010–2025, it was 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, 15 of which have won it more than once. The most successful club in the competition is Real Madrid, with 11 titles while CSKA Moscow follow with 8 and Panathinaikos with 7. The latter is also the competition's most successful club during its modern era since 2001 with 5 trophies, while Virtus Bologna was the first ever winner in 2000–01.

Maccabi Tel Aviv was the competition's last ever champion during the FIBA period which was ended in 2001. Until then FIBA had organised 44 editions with Real Madrid also being the most decorated club during the FIBA era (1958–2001) with 8 titles.

History

Template:Main

FIBA era and the 2000 split

The FIBA European Champions Cup was originally established by FIBA and it operated from 1958 until the summer of 2001. Since the 1987–88 FIBA European Champions Cup and until 2001, the winner was decided by a final four.

The 1999–00 season was the last before the split of 2000 between FIBA and various top clubs backed by ULEB who launched its own top-tier competition. In the summer of 2000 the Euroleague Basketball was found.

FIBA had previously used the EuroLeague name for the competition since 1996, but it had never trademarked the name. As FIBA had no legal recourse on the usage of the name, ULEB grasped the opportunity and started a new league under the name of Euroleague', while FIBA renamed its top-tier competition the FIBA SuproLeague. Thus, the2000–2001 season started with two top European professional club basketball competitions: FIBA SuproLeague (renamed from FIBA EuroLeague) and EuroLeague by ULEB.

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 ULEB.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first Euroleague champion of the new era in 2000-01 was decided by a best of three series.

ULEB era: 2001-2009

In May 2001, Europe had two continental champions, Maccabi of the FIBA SuproLeague and Kinder Bologna of the ULEB 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 ULEB and Euroleague Basketball took over the major European club competition, establishing 3-year licences with top clubs - not based on sporting merit.

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, following another major disagreement with FIBA who launched its own two competitions as an answer.

2009: Euroleague Basketball

In 2009, Euroleague Properties S.A. (EP) was created and the competition's company Euroleague Basketball under Jordi Bertomeu took full control, limiting ULEB's role. During all this period many top European clubs had permanent presence in the competition via licences and regardless of their domestic performances.

In October 2015, FIBA tried to take control back, tempting 8 top European clubs (Panathinaikos, Olympiakos, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Maccabi Tel Aviv, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce and Efes Pilsen) to sign long-term licenses with the Federation in a 16-team brand new European league called the FIBA Basketball Champions League in a round-robin format (the other 8 spots would be decided on domestic performances). The clubs rejected the proposal, but they came up with an almost identical plan a few weeks later.

League era: 2016- present

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The deal was worth €630 million guaranteed over 10 years, with projected revenues reaching €900 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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, effectively making it a closed league.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The EuroLeague saw increasing influence from the Middle East during the 2020s. The league had another milestone event in 2025, when it hosted the Final Four in Abu Dhabi, as the first final tournament to be held outside of Europe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The league further expanded to 20 teams in the 2025–26 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As part of the expansion, Dubai Basketball was given a 5-year license, thus becoming the first team from outside of Europe (excluding Israeli teams) to play in the competition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Title sponsorship

Template:Update section In years 2010–2025, EuroLeague was 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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The option was activated in October 2013, extending the sponsorship deal until 2020.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On July 1, 2025, it has ended sponsor naming rights of Turkish Airlines. In September 2025, EuroLeague announced a four-year partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism and Etihad Airways, designating them as Main Partners of the EuroLeague and EuroCup competitions and Final Four Presenting Partner. The agreement includes brand visibility for Experience Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways across arenas, live broadcasts and team jerseys in all ErouLeague and EuroCup games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Names of the competition

A EuroLeague game in 2019.
  • FIBA era: (1958–2001)
    • FIBA European Champions Cup: (1958–1991)
    • FIBA European League: (1991–1996)
    • FIBA EuroLeague: (1996–2000)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
    • FIBA SuproLeague: (2000–2001)
  • Euroleague Basketball era: (2000–present)
    • ULEB Euroleague: (2000–2001)
    • Euroleague: (2001–2016)
    • 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 ULEB and Euroleague Basketball.

Licences

The main difference between the competition run by FIBA Europe and the modern one since 2000 has been the licenses that guaranteed a club's participation in the Euroleague regardless of their performance in their national championship. The 3-year guaranteed participation was granted by an A-license. In 2009 the A-Licenses granted were 13, while in 2012 they became 14.

Until 2015, many major clubs would compete with a 3-year licence, while others would get a wild card or a B-License for one year. In 2015, 11 clubs signed long-term licenses with the Euroleague Basketball (until 2026) and they also became the company's shareholders leaving only 5 spots to other teams to participate. In 2021–22 season, ASVEL and Bayern Munich were added to the shareholders' group taking the number to 13. As of the 2025–26 season, the Euroleague Basketball offers 3-year licenses to clubs other than the 13 shareholders with the fee being 5 million euros in total (about 1.7 million euros per year).<ref>EuroLeague: Here's How Licenses Are Assigned (2025) - backdoorpodcast.com</ref> The EuroLeague Board of Directors, composed of the 13 shareholders, is responsible to evaluate each individual request of a club for a 3-year license. In 2025, Euroleague Basketball granted 3-year licenses (until 2028) to the following clubs:

A-Licenses history

Club First License Second License Third License Fourth License Fifth License Shareholder
Olympiacos BC 2000–2003 2003–2006 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
Panathinaikos BC 2001–2003 - 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
Anadolu Efes S.K. 2001–2003 2003–2006 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. 2001–2003 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
Real Madrid Baloncesto 2000-2003Template:Cref2 - 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
Saski Baskonia - 2003–2006 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
FC Barcelona Bàsquet 2000–2003 2003–2006 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
Fenerbahçe S.K. - - 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
BC Žalgiris 2001–2003 2003–2006 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
PBC CSKA Moscow 2001–2003 2003–2006 2009–2012 2012–2015 2015–2026
KK Olimpija 2000–2003 2003–2006 2006–2009 2009–2012 - -
Lottomatica Roma - - - 2009-2011Template:Cref2 2012–2015 -
ASVEL Basket 2001–2003 2003–2006 - - - 2021–2026
Mens Sana Siena - 2003–2006 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012-2014Template:Cref2 -
Unicaja Malaga - 2006–2009 2009–2012 2012–2015 -
Prokom Trefl Sopot - - - 2009–2012 2012-2015Template:Cref2 -
EA7 Milano - - - - 2012-2015Template:Cref2 2015–2026
Ülker G.S.K. 2001–2003 2003–2006 - - - -
KK Cibona 2000–2003 2003–2006 2006–2009 - - -
AEK BC - 2003–2006 - - - -
Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez 2001–2003 2003–2006 - - - -
Le Mans Sarthe Basket - - 2006–2009 - - -
KK Zadar 2000–2002 - - - - -
KK Budućnost 2000–2003 - - - - -
Virtus Bologna 2000–2002 - - - - -
Fortitudo Bologna 2000–2003 2003–2006 - - - -
Benetton Treviso 2000–2003 2003–2006 - - - -
Opel Skyliners 2000–2002 - - - - -
London Towers 2000–2002 - - - - -
Alba Berlin 2001–2003 - - - - -
FC Bayern Munich - - - - - 2021–2026

Template:Cnote2 Template:Cnote2 Template:Cnote2 Template:Cnote2 Template:Cnote2

Wild cards history

Club Period
Saint Petersburg Lions 2000–2001
Śląsk Wrocław 2003–2004
Mens Sana Siena 2002–2003
Darüşşafaka Basketbol 2015–2017
FC Bayern Munich 2015–2016,
2019-2020
SIG Strasbourg 2015–2016
Lokomotiv Kuban 2015–2016
Alba Berlin 2021–2023,
2023–2025
BC Zenit Saint Petersburg 2019–2020,
2021-2022
KK Crvena zvezda 2021–2022,
2023–2024,
2025–2028
KK Partizan 2022–2023,
2024–2025,
2025–2028
Valencia Basket 2022–2023
Virtus Bologna 2023–2025,
2025–2028
ASVEL Basket 2020–2021
AS Monaco 2024–2026
Dubai BC 2025–2030

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

Template:More citations needed section

File:Forum Assago Euroleague Final Four 2014.jpg
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.Template:Citation needed

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.Template:Citation needed

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.Template:Citation needed

Qualification

Currently (and since the suspension of Russian teams because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>), 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:

       

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.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

European professional basketball club rankings

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Current clubs

These are the teams that participate in the 2025–26 EuroLeague season: 2025–26 EuroLeague

Results

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  1. 1958–2001: FIBA European Champions Cup, FIBA European League, FIBA Euroleague, FIBA Suproleague
  2. 2001–present: ULEB Euroleague, EuroLeague

FIBA era (1958–2001)

# Year Finalists Semi-finalists
Champion Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
1 1958
Details
Template:Flagicon
Rīgas ASK
170–152
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
Academic Sofia
Template:Flagicon Real Madrid BC and Template:Flagicon Budapesti Honvéd
2 1958–59
Details
Template:Flagicon
Rīgas ASK
148–125
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
Academic Sofia
Template:Flagicon KKS Lech Poznań Template:Flagicon OKK Beograd
3 1959–60
Details
Template:Flagicon
Rīgas ASK
130–113
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
BC Dinamo Tbilisi
Template:Flagicon Slovan Praha BK and Template:Flagicon KKS Polonia Warszawa
4 1960–61
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
148–128
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
Rīgas ASK
Template:Flagicon Steaua București and Template:Flagicon Real Madrid BC
5 1961–62
Details
Template:Flagicon
BC Dinamo Tbilisi
90–83 Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon CSKA Moscow and Template:Flagicon KK Olimpija Ljubljana
6 1962–63
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
259–240
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon BC Dinamo Tbilisi and Template:Flagicon BC Brno
7 1963–64
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
183–174
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
BC Brno
Template:Flagicon Olimpia Milano and Template:Flagicon OKK Beograd
8 1964–65
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
157–150
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon OKK Beograd and Template:Flagicon Pallacanestro Varese
9 1965–66
Details
Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
77–72 Template:Flagicon
Slavia VŠ Praha
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
AEK BC
10 1966–67
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
91–83 Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
Template:Flagicon
Slavia VŠ Praha
Template:Flagicon
KK Olimpija Ljubljana
11 1967–68
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
98–95 Template:Flagicon
BC Brno
Template:Flagicon KK Zadar and Template:Flagicon Olimpia Milano
12 1968–69
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
103–99 (2 OT's) Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon BC Brno and Template:Flagicon Standard Liège
13 1969–70
Details
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
79–74 Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon Real Madrid BC and Template:Flagicon Slavia VŠ Praha
14 1970–71
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
67–53 Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
Template:Flagicon Slavia VŠ Praha and Template:Flagicon Real Madrid BC
15 1971–72
Details
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
70–69 Template:Flagicon
KK Split
Template:Flagicon Panathinaikos BC and Template:Flagicon Real Madrid BC
16 1972–73
Details
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
71–66 Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon Olimpia Milano and Template:Flagicon Crvena zvezda
17 1973–74
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
84–82 Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
Template:Flagicon Berck BC and Template:Flagicon Radnički Belgrade
18 1974–75
Details
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
79–66 Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid
Template:Flagicon Berck BC and Template:Flagicon KK Zadar
19 1975–76
Details
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
81–74 Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon Pallacanestro Cantù and Template:Flagicon ASVEL Villeurbanne
20 1976–77
Details
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
78–77 Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
21 1977–78
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
75–67 Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
Template:Flagicon
ASVEL Villeurbanne
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
22 1978–79
Details
Template:Flagicon
KK Bosna Sarajevo
96–93 Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Varese
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
23 1979–80
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
89–85 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
KK Bosna Sarajevo
Template:Flagicon
Virtus Bologna
24 1980–81
Details
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
80–79 Template:Flagicon
Virtus Bologna
Template:Flagicon
Heroes Den Bosch
Template:Flagicon
KK Bosna Sarajevo
25 1981–82
Details
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Cantù
86–80 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Partizan Belgrade
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
26 1982–83
Details
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Cantù
69–68 Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
27 1983–84
Details
Template:Flagicon
Virtus Roma
79–73 Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Cantù
Template:Flagicon
KK Bosna Sarajevo
28 1984–85
Details
Template:Flagicon
Cibona Zagreb
87–78 Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
29 1985–86
Details
Template:Flagicon
Cibona Zagreb
94–82 Template:Flagicon
BC Žalgiris Kaunas
Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
30 1986–87
Details
Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
71–69 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Pau Orthez
Template:Flagicon
KK Zadar
31 1987–88
Details
Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
90–84 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Partizan Belgrade
Template:Flagicon
Aris Thessaloniki BC
32 1988–89
Details
Template:Flagicon
KK Split
75–69 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Aris Thessaloniki BC
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
33 1989–90
Details
Template:Flagicon
KK Split
72–67 Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
Limoges CSP
Template:Flagicon
Aris Thessaloniki BC
34 1990–91
Details
Template:Flagicon
KK Split
70–65 Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Victoria Libertas Pesaro
35 1991–92
Details
Template:Flagicon
Partizan Belgrade
71–70 Template:Flagicon
Joventut Badalona
Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
Template:Flagicon
CB Estudiantes
36 1992–93
Details
Template:Flagicon
Limoges CSP
59–55 Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Treviso
Template:Flagicon
PAOK BC
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
37 1993–94
Details
Template:Flagicon
Joventut Badalona
59–57 Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
38 1994–95
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
73–61 Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
Template:Flagicon
Limoges CSP
39 1995–96
Details
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
67–66 Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
40 1996–97
Details
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
73–58 Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
KK Olimpija Ljubljana
Template:Flagicon
ASVEL Villeurbanne
41 1997–98
Details
Template:Flagicon
Virtus Bologna
58–44 Template:Flagicon
AEK BC
Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Treviso
Template:Flagicon
Partizan Belgrade
42 1998–99
Details
Template:Flagicon
BC Žalgiris Kaunas
82–74 Template:Flagicon
Virtus Bologna
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
Fortitudo Bologna
43 1999–00
Details
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
73–67 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Anadolu Efes SK
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
44 2000–01
Details
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
81–67 Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
Template:Flagicon
Anadolu Efes SK
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow

ULEB and ECA era (2000–present)

# Year Finalists Semi-finalists
Champion Score Runner-up Third place Fourth place
1
(45)
2000–01
Details
Template:Flagicon
Virtus Bologna
3–2
Template:Small
Template:Flagicon
Saski Baskonia
Template:Flagicon Fortitudo Bologna and Template:Flagicon AEK BC
2
(46)
2001–02
Details
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
89–83 Template:Flagicon
Virtus Bologna
Template:Flagicon Maccabi Tel Aviv and Template:Flagicon Pallacanestro Treviso
3
(47)
2002–03
Details
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
76–65 Template:Flagicon
Pallacanestro Treviso
Template:Flagicon
Mens Sana Siena
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
4
(48)
2003–04
Details
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
118–74 Template:Flagicon
Fortitudo Bologna
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
Mens Sana Siena
5
(49)
2004–05
Details
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
90–78 Template:Flagicon
Saski Baskonia
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
6
(50)
2005–06
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
73–69 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Saski Baskonia
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
7
(51)
2006–07
Details
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
93–91 Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
BC Málaga
Template:Flagicon
Saski Baskonia
8
(52)
2007–08
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
91–77 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Mens Sana Siena
Template:Flagicon
Saski Baskonia
9
(53)
2008–09
Details
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
73–71 Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
10
(54)
2009–10
Details
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
86–68 Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
Partizan Belgrade
11
(55)
2010–11
Details
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
78–70 Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Template:Flagicon
Mens Sana Siena
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
12
(56)
2011–12
Details
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
62–61 Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
13
(57)
2012–13
Details
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
100–88 Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
14
(58)
2013–14
Details
Template:Flagicon
Maccabi Tel Aviv
98–86 (OT) Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
15
(59)
2014–15
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
78–59 Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
Fenerbahçe SK
16
(60)
2015–16
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
101–96 (OT) Template:Flagicon
Fenerbahçe SK
Template:Flagicon
Lokomotiv Kuban
Template:Flagicon
Saski Baskonia
17
(61)
2016–17
Details
Template:Flagicon
Fenerbahçe SK
80–64 Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
18
(62)
2017–18
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
85–80 Template:Flagicon
Fenerbahçe SK
Template:Flagicon
BC Žalgiris Kaunas
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
19
(63)
2018–19
Details
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
91–83 Template:Flagicon
Anadolu Efes SK
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon
Fenerbahçe SK
20
(64)
2019–20
Details
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
21
(65)
2020–21
Details
Template:Flagicon
Anadolu Efes SK
86–81 Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
Olimpia Milano
Template:Flagicon
CSKA Moscow
22
(66)
2021–22
Details
Template:Flagicon
Anadolu Efes SK
58–57 Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
23
(67)
2022–23
Details
Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
79–78 Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
AS Monaco
Template:Flagicon
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
24
(68)
2023–24
Details
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
95–80 Template:Flagicon
Real Madrid BC
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
Fenerbahçe SK
25
(69)
2024–25
Details
Template:Flagicon
Fenerbahçe SK
81–70 Template:Flagicon
AS Monaco
Template:Flagicon
Olympiacos BC
Template:Flagicon
Panathinaikos BC
26
(70)
2025–26
Details

Team statistics

Titles by club

Template:Further

Rank Club Titles Runner-up Champion years
1 Template:Flagicon 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 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon CSKA Moscow 8 6 1960–61, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1970–71, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2015–16, 2018–19
3 Template:Flagicon Panathinaikos 7 1 1995–96, 1999–00, 2001–02, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2023–24
4 Template:Flagicon Maccabi Tel Aviv 6 9 1976–77, 1980–81, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2013–14
5 Template:Flagicon Varese 5 5 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76
6 Template:Flagicon Olympiacos 3 6 1996–97, 2011–12, 2012–13
7 Template:Flagicon Olimpia Milano 3 2 1965–66, 1986–87, 1987–88
8 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Rīgas ASK 3 1 1958, 1958–59, 1959–60
9 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Split 3 1 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91
10 Template:Flagicon Barcelona 2 6 2002–03, 2009–10
11 Template:Flagicon Virtus Bologna 2 3 1997–98, 2000–01
12 Template:Flagicon Fenerbahçe 2 2 2016–17, 2024–25
13 Template:Flagicon Anadolu Efes 2 1 2020–21, 2021–22
14 Template:Flagicon Cantù 2 1981–82, 1982–83
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Cibona 2 1984–85, 1985–86
16 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Dinamo Tbilisi 1 1 1961–62
Template:Flagicon Joventut Badalona 1 1 1993–94
Template:Flagicon Žalgiris 1 1 1998–99
19 Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Bosna 1 1978–79
Template:Flagicon Virtus Roma 1 1983–84
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Partizan 1 1991–92
Template:Flagicon Limoges CSP 1 1992–93
23 Template:Flagicon Academic 2
Template:Flagicon Brno 2
Template:Flagicon Treviso 2
Template:Flagicon Baskonia 2
27 Template:Flagicon USK Praha 1
Template:Flagicon AEK 1
Template:Flagicon Fortitudo Bologna 1
Template:Flagicon Monaco 1

Titles by nation

Rank Country Club Titles Runners-up
1. Template:Flagicon Spain Real Madrid 11 10
FC Barcelona 2 6
Joventut Badalona 1 1
Baskonia 2
4 clubs 14 19
2. Template:Flagicon 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. Template:Flagicon Greece Panathinaikos 7 1
Olympiacos 3 6
AEK 1
3 clubs 10 8
4. Template:Flagicon Soviet Union* CSKA Moscow 4 3
Rīgas ASK 3 1
Dinamo Tbilisi 1 1
Žalgiris - 1
4 clubs 8 6
5. Template:Flagicon Yugoslavia* Split 3 1
Cibona 2
Bosna 1
Partizan 1
4 clubs 7 1
6. Template:Flagicon Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 6 9
7. Template:Flagicon Russia CSKA Moscow 4 3
Template:Flagicon Turkey Fenerbahçe 2 2
Anadolu Efes 2 1
2 clubs 4 3
9. Template:Flagicon France Limoges CSP 1
Monaco 1
2 clubs 1 1
10. Template:Flagicon Lithuania Žalgiris 1
11. Template:Flagicon Czechoslovakia* Brno 2
USK Praha 1
2 clubs 0 3
12. Template:Flagicon Bulgaria Academic 2
  • Countries marked with an asterisk no longer exist.

Records

Template:More citations needed section Template:See also

FIBA era

Modern era (2000-present)

EuroLeague awards

Template:Main

Season statistical leaders

Template:Main

All-time leaders

Template:Main

Error creating thumbnail:
Mike James is the competition's all-time scorer since 2000–01.

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

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

Individual performances

Template:Main

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

Template:Notelist

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 Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip
Template:Nowrap 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

Template:Citation needed

Rank Home team Score Away team Attendance Arena Date Ref
1 Template:Flagicon Partizan 63–56 Template:Flagicon Panathinaikos 22,567 Belgrade Arena Template:Dts [1] Template:Webarchive
2 Template:Flagicon Partizan 76–67 Template:Flagicon Maccabi Tel Aviv 21,367 Belgrade Arena Template:Dts [2] Template:Webarchive
3 Template:Flagicon Partizan 56–67 Template:Flagicon CSKA Moscow 21,352 Belgrade Arena Template:Dts [3] Template:Webarchive

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

As of 4/4/2023 Partizan holds 10 games in top 10 most attended games.Template:Citation needed

Media coverage

The EuroLeague season is broadcast on television, and can be seen in up to 201 countries and territories.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It can be seen by up to 245 million (800 million via satellite) households weekly in China.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> before returning later to the ESPN networks.

The EuroLeague Final Four is broadcast on television in up to 213 countries and territories.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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)<ref name="basketnews"/><ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings"/> English Pay
Template:Hidden begin

Template:Hidden end

SportKlub<ref name="basketnews"/><ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings"/> Bosnian
Croatian
Montenegrin
Macedonian
Serbian
Slovenian
Pay
Template:Hidden begin

Template:Hidden end

Go3 Sport<ref name="basketnews"/><ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings"/> Estonian
Latvian
Lithuanian
Pay
TV3<ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings"/>
Template:Flag Movistar Plus+, Deportes por Movistar Plus+<ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings">Template:Cite web</ref> Spanish Pay
Template:Flag ESPN<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> English Pay
Template:Flag SKWEEK TV<ref name="basketnews">Template:Cite web</ref> French Pay
Template:Flag
Template:Flag Telekom Sport, also known as MagentaSport<ref name="basketnews"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> German Pay
Template:Flag Novasports<ref name="basketnews"/> Greek Pay
Template:Flag Sky Sport Arena<ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings"/> Italian Pay
DAZN<ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings"/>
Template:Flag Sport 5<ref name="basketnews"/><ref name="EuroLeague TV Listings"/> Hebrew Pay
Template:Flag S Sport Plus<ref name="basketnews"/> Turkish Pay

Sponsors

Template:Col-begin Template:Col 3

Premium partners

Template:Col 3

Official Partners

Template:Col 3

Licensing Partners

Template:Col-end

Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

Men's competitions

Women's competitions

IWBF Basketball

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category

Template:Euroleague seasons Template:Basketball in Europe Template:Men's professional basketball leagues Template:European basketball cups Template:European Club Competitions Template:Portal bar