EuroLeague 2315
Panathinaikos Survive Efes Thanks to Juancho Hernangomez
It didn’t quite feel inevitable but you could always tell this wasn’t ending in a blowout. Panathinaikos were kept in the game in large part thanks to Juancho Hernangomez. Eventually the rest of the troops rallied and they, somehow, overcame Anadolu Efes in Game 1 of the Euroleague playoffs. Juancho Hernangomez was a beast and […]
Ergin Ataman Returns to Haunt Efes with Cedi Osman by His Side
For Ergin Ataman and Cedi Osman, the Euroleague playoff series with Anadolu Efes will evoke strong memories. For both, the goal is simple. Panathinaikos need to win this series to prove something to themselves. They face a side in a dangerous position, with little in the way of pressure or expectation. The script writers couldn’t […]
FC Bayern, Real Madrid, and a Euroleague turning point
FC Bayern face Real Madrid for a place in the Euroleague playoffs on Friday. That however is just one small step on what appears to be a serious acceleration in their basketball journey. Emmet Ryan on how a new and sustainable power might be emerging. It’s going to be tasty. There’s no doubt about that. […]
Reset or reload: Crvena Zvezda at the Euroleague crossroads
With their exit to FC Bayern in the play-in round of Euroleague, Crvena Zvezda’s season in basketball’s big show has come to an end. Emmet Ryan on the complex challenge ahead for the Belgrade club. It was a game where neither side seemed capable of maintaining composure when in front. In the end, it was […]
Will Fans Buy in to NBA Europe?
It’s time for the fifth and final part of our series, NBA Europe: The Grand Experiment. This final article on the cultural battle — the emotional, tribal, and unpredictable part of any sports venture. In short, it’s about the fans. The NBA and FIBA may have the branding and the resources, but without fan buy-in, […]
Can NBA Europe Win on TV?
At the end of the day, the NBA Europe project is focused on generating revenue. Part 4 of our series on FIBA and the NBA’s new basketball league focuses on the broadcast and media strategy — arguably the single most important financial pillar for NBA Europe. We break down the potential for success, the very […]
Will Europe’s Top Clubs Join NBA Europe?
Part three of our series addresses the critical question of club participation. No matter how strong the NBA’s branding is, if the continent’s biggest teams don’t join, NBA Europe will struggle to command legitimacy or fan interest. Today we explore who might join, who likely won’t, and the complicated choices those clubs face. Read part […]
Can NBA Europe Take Over?
Part two of our series, NBA Europe: The Grant Experiment, digs into the structural conflict at the heart of the NBA’s ambitions in Europe — namely, the decision to go around EuroLeague rather than partner with it. Emmet Ryan explores who really controls European basketball, what the NBA wants to change, and whether NBA Europe […]
The High Price of NBA Europe
The NBA and FIBA plan to launch a pan-European league in time for the 2026/27 season. The idea is as ambitious as it is unprecedented. Both organisations are betting on a belief in basketball’s untapped commercial potential on the continent. Emmet Ryan on just how expensive it is going to be for NBA Europe to […]
Everyone’s Ready for TJ Shorts — He’s Still Winning
TJ Shorts is 5’9” (175cm), or at least he’s listed as such. He never played at a level like Euroleague before this season. Shorts isn’t even on a team that was rated going into the campaign. He was also supposed to be a known basketball property before stepping up to this level. Yet all he […]
NBA’s Europe Play Must Bridge Euroleague and FIBA
The NBA plan for Europe seems to have hit a wall. Euroleague says it is open to negotiating with the basketball powerhouse. FIBA believes any NBA involvement in Europe must go through it. Emmet Ryan writes that any successful entity really requires the support and collaboration of both. The NBA is back in talks with […]
Olympiacos Outlasts Panathinaikos – A Euroleague final preview?
It was one of the most enjoyable Greek basketball derbies in a long time. Olympiacos outlasted Panathinaikos to make it eight straight wins for the Reds over the Greens in Euroleague. Emmet Ryan on how we might have just seen a preview of the championship game in Abu Dhabi. That was, simply, great. Obviously, Panathinaikos […]