Professional men'sbasketball clubs inEurope can compete in a number of different competitions, including national leagues, regional (multi-national) leagues, and continental competitions. It is therefore possible for clubs from some countries to take part in several levels of competition in the same season. Clubs usually qualify for European competitions through performance in their national or regional leagues, with the exception ofwild cards.
There are currently five competitions which are branded as Europe-wide, two controlled byEuroleague Basketball, two byFIBA Europe and one patronised byFIBA. Clubs which compete in these competitions also play in their national and/or regional leagues. Clubs usually qualify for these competitions based on their performance in the national or regional leagues in the previous season.
TheEuroLeague is a competition with currently 20 teams. It has historically been the most prestigious competition in European basketball and is widely recognised as the top-tier league in Europe.
TheEuroCup is Euroleague Basketball's secondary competition, and currently made up of 20 teams from around Europe. The two finalists of the EuroCup qualify for the next season's EuroLeague.
TheBasketball Champions League, which began in 2016, isFIBA Europe's highest competition. Initially, FIBA established EuroLeague in 1958 but never trademarketed the name which was latertaken over by Euroleague Basketball. The Basketball Champions League involves 52 teams.
TheEurope Cup isFIBA Europe's secondary competition. 47 teams compete, and the teams which did not enter in the Basketball Champions League regular season have the option to drop down into the regular season of the Europe Cup.
TheEuropean North Basketball League is a professional men's clubbasketball league featuring teams from acrossEurope. Despite its name, the league is not limited to northern Europe. Established in 2021, the ENBL is considered the 5th-tier European competition, ranking below theFIBA Europe Cup.
In addition to national leagues in individual countries, there are leagues which include clubs from several countries.
TheABA League, commonly called the Adriatic League, began in 2001, and consists of clubs from theformer Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina,Croatia,Montenegro,North Macedonia,Serbia andSlovenia). At different times, the league has also included clubs fromAustria,Bulgaria, theCzech Republic,Hungary,Romania,UAE andIsrael. Clubs generally also compete in their own national leagues in the same season, after the conclusion of the ABA League season. The winner of the league qualifies for the next season's EuroLeague.
Balkan International Basketball League began in 2008 andEuropean North Basketball League started in 2021.
TheVTB United League is made up of mostly Russian clubs, as well as a smaller number of clubs from nearby countries - currentlyBelarus andKazakhstan. It serves as the top division of theRussian national league system.
Other multi-national leagues in Europe have included theNorth European Basketball League (1999–2003), theBaltic Basketball League (2004–2018), theCentral European Basketball League (2008–2010), theLatvian-Estonian Basketball League, theBNXT League, and theAlpe Adria Cup.
Each country generally has its ownleague system, with various divisions which involvepromotion and relegation, as well asplayoffs following the regular season.
The SpanishLiga ACB contributes the most, three to four clubs to the EuroLeague each season. Other leagues among the strongest include Turkey'sBSL, Russia'sVTB United League, Italy'sLBA, theLNB Pro A in France, theGreek Basket League, theBasketball Bundesliga in Germany, and theABA League.[1]
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