Amanda Knapp
The EuroLeague is a prestigious men's professional basketball league in Europe. It was first introduced in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup and was renamed the FIBA EuroLeague in 1996. The league consists of 20 teams, 16 of which have long-term licenses and wild cards. The season typically runs from October to May, with the exact dates varying slightly each year. The EuroLeague is widely recognised as the top-tier league in Europe and is one of the most popular indoor sports leagues in the world, with high attendance rates and a large following.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 20 |
| Number of licensed clubs | 12 |
| Number of associated clubs | 6 |
| Most successful club | Real Madrid (11 titles) |
| Second most successful club | CSKA Moscow (8 titles) |
| Third most successful club | Panathinaikos (7 titles) |
| Organizer | FIBA (1958-2000), Euroleague Basketball (since 2000) |
| Previous name | FIBA European Champions Cup (1958-1996) |
| Current sponsor | Turkish Airlines |
| Average attendance, 2023-24 season | 10,383 |
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What You'll Learn
The EuroLeague is the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe
The EuroLeague is a professional basketball club competition that is widely recognised as the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. It is one of the two Europe-wide competitions controlled by Euroleague Basketball, with the other being the secondary EuroCup. The league features 18 teams, 12 of which are held by licensed clubs that have long-term licenses with Euroleague Basketball and are members of the Shareholders Executive Board. The remaining six EuroLeague places are held by associated clubs that have annual licenses, 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 EuroCup.
The EuroLeague was first organized by FIBA in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup, which operated under FIBA's umbrella until Euroleague Basketball was created for the 2000-01 season. The competition was renamed the FIBA EuroLeague in 1996, and the FIBA European Champions Cup and the EuroLeague are considered to be the same competition with a simple rebranding. Since 2010, the EuroLeague has been sponsored by Turkish Airlines, with the competition being named the 'Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball'.
The EuroLeague is widely recognised as the top-tier league in Europe, featuring the top clubs from across the continent. The league has produced star players who have transitioned to the NBA, showcasing a tactical and team-oriented style of play. The quality of the EuroLeague has improved in recent years due to increased revenue investment from wealthy benefactors, allowing for higher salaries and attracting better talent. The league has a passionate fanbase, making it the prime showcase for the best of European basketball.
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. The league has been won by 22 clubs, with Real Madrid being the most successful club with 11 titles, followed by CSKA Moscow with 8 and Panathinaikos with 7. The EuroLeague is the biggest European basketball tournament, but there are other competitions within the FIBA system that hold a lot of prestige, such as Spain's Liga ACB, which has produced NBA All-Stars like Pau and Marc Gasol.
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The league consists of 20 teams
The EuroLeague is a prestigious men's professional basketball club competition in Europe. The league consists of 20 teams, 16 of which have long-term licences and wild cards, making the league semi-closed. The remaining six EuroLeague spots are held by associated clubs with annual licences, including one two-year wild card, three one-year wild cards, and two finalists from the previous season's second-tier EuroCup. The EuroCup is Euroleague Basketball's secondary competition, with 20 teams participating from across Europe. The two finalists of the EuroCup advance to the EuroLeague in the following season.
The EuroLeague was first established in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup and operated under FIBA until the 2000-2001 season. Since then, it has been organised by Euroleague Basketball. The competition was renamed the FIBA EuroLeague in 1996, and it is considered the same as the FIBA European Champions Cup, with the change being merely a rebranding. The league has been sponsored by Turkish Airlines since 2010.
The authority in European professional basketball is divided between FIBA and Euroleague Basketball. FIBA oversees national team competitions such as the FIBA EuroBasket, the FIBA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics. On the other hand, Euroleague Basketball manages European professional club competitions like the EuroLeague and the EuroCup. Euroleague Basketball and IMG agreed on a joint venture in 2015, managing the league's commercial operations and global rights. This deal was worth €630 million guaranteed over ten years, with projected revenues reaching €900 million.
The EuroLeague is one of the most popular indoor sports leagues worldwide, with high attendance rates. It is ranked as the second-highest professional basketball league globally, only behind the National Basketball Association (NBA). The title has been won by 22 clubs, with Real Madrid being the most successful, having claimed the championship 11 times. CSKA Moscow and Panathinaikos follow closely with eight and seven titles, respectively.
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The league was first organised by FIBA in 1958
The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. It is widely recognised as the most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The league was first organised by FIBA in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup. It operated under FIBA's umbrella until 2000, when Euroleague Basketball was created for the 2000-01 season.
The FIBA European Champions Cup and the EuroLeague are considered the same competition, with the change of name being a simple rebranding. The EuroLeague has been the official name since 1996. However, the league has had a complex history with several changes in format and organisation.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is an association of national organisations that governs basketball worldwide. FIBA defines the rules of basketball, equipment specifications, and facilitates international competitions, among other responsibilities. It was founded in Geneva in 1932, two years after the sport was officially recognised by the IOC. FIBA became the only recognised authority for basketball in 1934.
The EuroLeague has featured 18 to 20 teams, with 16 long-term licences and wild cards. This has made the league a semi-closed league. The competition has been criticised by FIBA and several national federations for creating a 'closed league' and ignoring the principle of meritocracy.
Since 2010, the EuroLeague has been sponsored by Turkish Airlines, with the competition named the 'Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Basketball'. The league is highly popular, with an average attendance of 10,383 for league matches in the 2023-24 season.
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The league has been sponsored by Turkish Airlines since 2010
The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition and is widely recognised as the top-tier and most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The league was first organised by FIBA in 1958, then by ULEB in 2000, and since then solely by Euroleague Basketball. The competition was introduced in 1958 as the FIBA European Champions Cup, which was renamed the FIBA EuroLeague in 1996. It 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 the same competition, with the change of name being a rebranding.
Since 2010, the league has been sponsored by Turkish Airlines. The collaboration has helped the company's visibility and global reach by targeting basketball fans worldwide. The sponsorship deal was worth €15 million for five years, starting in the 2010-11 season, and the competition was named the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball. The agreement included an option to extend for another five years, which was activated in October 2013, extending the deal until 2020. Turkish Airlines' sponsorship includes logos on the courts, jerseys, and promotional items. The airline also signed an endorsement deal with Kobe Bryant in 2010, who was a global brand ambassador for the company.
Turkish Airlines has actively sponsored many sports leagues, including basketball. The company's brand presence has been visible at high-profile events, grabbing attention on a global scale. The airline has been the carrier serving the most countries worldwide, and in 1959, Mesut Manioğlu designed its official emblem—a simplified goose that can fly up to 9,000 meters, creating a visually memorable presence.
The Euroleague has been one of Europe's most prestigious basketball competitions since 2000, with 18 teams competing in over 300 matches for the European title each year. The league currently consists of 18 teams, of which 12 are held by licensed clubs with long-term licenses with Euroleague Basketball and are members of the Shareholders Executive Board. The remaining six EuroLeague places are held by associated clubs with annual licenses, 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 second-tier European competition, the EuroCup.
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The EuroCup is Euroleague Basketball's secondary competition
The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. It is widely recognised as the top-tier and most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The league consists of 18 teams, of which 12 are held by licensed clubs that have long-term licenses with Euroleague Basketball.
Euroleague Basketball also organises the EuroCup, also known as EuroCup Basketball, which is considered the second-tier professional basketball club tournament in Europe. The EuroCup was founded as the ULEB Cup in 2002 and lasted until 2008, when a new competition was introduced after an agreement between ULEB and FIBA Europe. The new competition was named the EuroCup for the 2008-09 season, and the number of teams was increased to 48. The winner of the FIBA EuroCup Challenge, previously known as the EuroCup, would now automatically qualify for the following season.
The EuroCup has since undergone several format changes and has had various sponsors, including 7DAYS and BKT. The competition has also grown, with 36 teams participating in the 2014-15 season and 48 teams in the 2013-14 season. The clubs were divided into two regional conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, during the 2013-14 season, with six teams in each group.
Since the 2021-22 season, both finalists of the EuroCup qualify for the following season's EuroLeague. This change gave more opportunities for EuroCup teams to compete in the prestigious EuroLeague, previously only awarded to the winner. The most successful club in the EuroCup is Valencia Basket, with four titles. The current champions, as of 2025, are Hapoel Tel Aviv, winning their first title.
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Frequently asked questions
The EuroLeague is a European men's professional basketball club competition. It is considered the top-tier and most prestigious men's basketball league in Europe. The season usually starts in September and ends in May.
The league consists of 20 teams, of which 16 are given long-term licenses and wild cards. The remaining six EuroLeague places are held by associated clubs that have annual licenses.
The EuroLeague was first organized by FIBA in 1958 and has since been recognized as the top-tier league in Europe. However, basketball has been played in Europe for much longer, with the first European basketball championships taking place in the early 20th century.
