The year 2025 marked a turning point in Spanish basketball, defined by a profound restructuring on the giants’ benches and the consolidation of solid alternatives that have challenged the established order.
In it Real Madridthe season was paradoxical. Despite exhibiting notable dominance in Endesa League —where they chained a historic streak of 34 consecutive victories at home and won the title—, the club opted for a change of cycle. Sergio Scariolo He assumed command of the white team, taking over from Chus. Mateo.
For his part, the Barça opted for nostalgia and solvency to get out of a two-year results crisis. The Blaugrana club recovered Xavi Pascual, the coach of its last Euroleaguewith the aim of rebuilding a project capable of recovering its hegemonic position in Europe and Spain.
In the highest continental competition, there was no presence of Spanish teams in a Final Four unusual match played at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. He Fenerbahce by Sarunas Jasikevicius was proclaimed champion after beating Monaco in the final (70-81) and previously Panathinaikos in the semis.
Ricky Rubio returned to Joventut
The national ecosystem was enriched by the rise of Unicaja and Valencia Basket. The people of Malaga lived an unforgettable 2025 by conquering the Copa of the King, the Champions League and the Intercontinental. The Valencians, in the year of their return to the Euroleague, won the Spanish Super Cup and reached the final of the Endesa League, confirming themselves as the great alternative to the traditional power while opening their new home, the brand new Roig Arena.
In women’s basketball, the Valencia Basket extended its dominance by winning its third consecutive league, this time after beating Casademont Zaragoza in the final. However, the competitiveness of the league was evident with the distribution of titles: the Casademont Zaragoza was awarded the Super Cupand the Global Hozone Jairis starred in the great feat of the year. The Murcian team, without being seeded, won a historic Copa de la Reina after consecutively eliminating the three big favorites: Valencia Basketball, Spar Girona and Perfumeries Avenida.
Women’s gold escapes
The women’s team completed a great European Championship, culminating in a creditable silver medal. Miguel Méndez’s team showed character by leading their group and successfully eliminating the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals and France in the semifinals. In the grand final, they dominated Belgium for many minutes but ended up conceding a cruel 14-0 in the last three minutes that left them without gold
The year concluded with two news of great significance for the future and the narrative of the sport: the return of Ricky Rubio and the creation of the League U. The El Masnou point guard returned to the court in the ranks of the youth from Badalona, closing the circle in the club that saw him debut.
Scariolo closes a glorious stage
“Everything has been extremely fast,” said Sergio Scariolo, announcing that he was closing his time on the bench of the Spanish team with five golds, one silver and two bronzes. The Italian coach began a new stage at Real Madrid, replacing Chus Mateo who was announced days later as the new national coach.
The creation of the League U It emerged as a strategic initiative aimed at protecting and professionalizing young national talent, trying to stop the flight of promises to the American university system (NCAA).
