What is the EuroLeague?
The EuroLeague is Europe’s premier basketball competition, featuring the best teams and players from across the continent. It is organized by the Euroleague Basketball Company, a private company based in Barcelona, Spain. The competition was established in 2000 and has been running ever since.
The EuroLeague is made up of 16 teams from across Europe, including the top clubs from each of the major European leagues. These teams compete in a regular season, which runs from October to April. At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs culminate in the EuroLeague Final Four, which is held each May in a different city.
How Does EuroLeague Work?
EuroLeague teams compete in a round-robin format during the regular season, with each team playing their opponents twice. The teams are divided into two groups of eight, with the top four teams from each group advancing to the playoffs. The playoffs consist of four best-of-five series, with the winners of each series advancing to the Final Four.
The Final Four is a single-elimination tournament, with the two winners advancing to the championship game. The championship game is a single game, and the winner is crowned EuroLeague champion.
EuroLeague Teams
The 16 EuroLeague teams are made up of some of the top clubs from across Europe. The teams are from the following countries:
- Spain: FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Baskonia, Unicaja Malaga
- Italy: Olimpia Milano, AX Armani Exchange Milan, Virtus Bologna, Umana Reyer Venezia
- Greece: Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, AEK Athens
- Turkey: Fenerbahce, Galatasaray
- Germany: Brose Bamberg
- Russia: CSKA Moscow
- France: ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne
- Israel: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Each EuroLeague team is made up of professional players from all over the world. The teams are managed by coaches and general managers, who are responsible for recruiting players, managing the team’s budget, and scouting opponents.
EuroLeague Rules
The EuroLeague follows the same rules and regulations as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The court size is 28 meters long by 15 meters wide, and the basket is 3.05 meters high. The game is played in four quarters of 10 minutes each, with teams switching sides at the end of each quarter.
Each team is allowed to have 12 players on their roster, with five players on the court at any one time. Teams can make up to 10 substitutions per game, as long as the substitutions do not exceed the 12-player limit.
The scoring system is the same as FIBA, with two points for a made shot from the field and one point for shots from the free-throw line. Players can also score three points for shots from the three-point line, which is 6.75 meters from the basket.
EuroLeague Schedule
The EuroLeague season starts in October and runs through April. Each team plays their opponents twice during the regular season, for a total of 30 games. The top eight teams then advance to the playoffs, which are held in April and May. The playoffs consist of four best-of-five series, with the winners of each advancing to the Final Four.
The Final Four is a single-elimination tournament, with the two winners advancing to the championship game. The championship game is a single game, and the winner is crowned EuroLeague champion.
EuroLeague Teams in the NBA
Over the years, several EuroLeague players have gone on to make it to the NBA. The most notable example is Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, who won the EuroLeague MVP award in 2018 before being drafted by the Mavericks. Other examples include former All-Stars such as Rudy Fernandez, Sarunas Jasikevicius, and Drazen Petrovic.
EuroLeague TV Rights
The EuroLeague has an extensive television deal with the American-based sports network ESPN. ESPN has the rights to broadcast EuroLeague games in the United States, as well as in many other countries around the world.
In addition to ESPN, the EuroLeague also has television deals with other networks around the world, including Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in Canada, and beIN SPORTS in France.
EuroLeague Sponsorship
The EuroLeague has a number of corporate sponsors, including Turkish Airlines, Nike, and Beko. These sponsors help to fund the league and its teams, as well as providing additional exposure for the league.
The EuroLeague is also sponsored by the Euroleague Basketball Company, which is responsible for organizing and managing the league. The company is owned by 11 of the 16 EuroLeague teams and is based in Barcelona, Spain.
EuroLeague Prize Money
The EuroLeague offers a significant amount of prize money for the teams that make it to the Final Four. The winning team receives €1.5 million, while the runner-up receives €1 million. The other two teams receive €500,000 and €250,000 respectively.
In addition to the prize money, the EuroLeague also provides additional incentives for teams that make the playoffs. The top four teams in the regular season receive extra money, as do the teams that win their respective playoff series.
Conclusion
The EuroLeague is Europe’s premier basketball competition, featuring the best teams and players from across the continent. It is made up of 16 teams from seven different countries, which compete in a round-robin format during the regular season. The top eight teams then advance to the playoffs, with the winners advancing to the Final Four. The Final Four is a single-elimination tournament, with the two winners advancing to the championship game. The winner of the championship game is crowned EuroLeague champion.