European basketball is hurtling toward a massive structural overhaul as Olympiakos prepares to defend its crown and 13 club shareholders prepare for a crucial meeting on October 5 in Milan, Italy.
Whether Europe’s top club competition is absorbed or pushed into a satellite role by the NBA—which has designs on launching a 16-franchise European circuit by the fall of 2027—its current identity is destined to change. In response to the NBA’s overtures and parallel discussions, Euroleague Commercial Assets (ECA) has announced plans to expand the competition from 20 to 24 teams while shifting toward a franchise model. Proposals currently on the drawing board include splitting the league into two 12-team conferences mirroring the NBA structure.
An Arms Race Across the Continent
The traditional single-group format that has anchored the competition for the past decade is entering its final stretch, though the immediate battle for the title remains fiercely contested. Olympiakos captured the trophy in late May on the home floor of its arch-rival, Panathinaikos, setting off an aggressive summer recruitment drive across the continent.
Seeking redemption after being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the previous Final Four, Panathinaikos brought back legendary coach Zeljko Obradovic, under whom the club won five of its seven Euroleague titles. Obradovic takes over a roster bolstered by French internationals Guerschon Yabusele—returning to Europe after a two-year stint in the NBA—and Sylvain Francisco, who earned a spot in the 2025–2026 All-Euroleague First Team.
Olympiakos countered by signing breakout Dominican star Jean Montero, who left Valencia after shining under coach Pedro Martinez. Martinez subsequently moved to Real Madrid, which lost Mario Hezonja to the Cleveland Cavaliers but added Nick Smith, the 27th pick in the 2023 NBA draft.
NBA Veterans Return to European Powerhouses
The influx of high-level talent extends far beyond the traditional Spanish and Greek giants. Hapoël Tel Aviv added Obi Toppin, who averaged 11.6 points per game last season with the Indiana Pacers, following the club’s acquisition of Vasilije Micic a year prior.
Anadolu Efes secured the return of Dario Saric after nine seasons in the NBA, while Žalgiris Kaunas brought back Jonas Valančiūnas following his 14-year NBA career. Alongside perennial contenders from Turkey and Lithuania, the competitive field sees a notable absence from AS Monaco, the 2025 runners-up, whose participation has been upended by severe financial difficulties.
New Beginnings for Parker and Paris Basketball
AS Monaco’s financial turmoil allowed rival clubs to poach key talent, with Anadolu Efes signing Mike James and Matthew Strazel, while Dubai BC added Elie Okobo and Alpha Diallo. LDLC ASVEL, however, missed out on landing German world and European champion Daniel Theis, who ultimately joined Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Tony Parker, first-time head coach of ASVEL, enters the campaign with a budget roughly half of the 59 million euros he initially targeted to compete with Europe’s heavyweights. Parker stated that the club’s primary goal in Europe is simply to “do better than last year,” when they finished at the bottom of the standings.
Paris Basketball enters the season with a new head coach, following a trend established every year since 2022. The club hopes that Maxime Lefèvre, who spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, can guide the team back into the thick of the playoff race.
As clubs prepare for tip-off, the October 5 meeting in Milan looms as the decisive battleground determining the long-term future of European professional basketball.
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