Features 668
Panathinaikos and the case for Perry Jones III
Konstantinos Panas of Ola Prasina examines how former Baylor Bear star and OKC Thunder bust Perry Jones III might be the best option to fill a need for Panathinaikos at power forward Suggesting a power forward for a team with needs as complex as those of the Greens wasn’t easy. I imagined a pure forward, […]
Let’s do more than lunch – How collaboration can spur European basketball
In part four of our long-form series on the civil war in European basketball, Emmet Ryan looks at the benefits real collaboration between FIBA and Euroleague would bring and examines the obstacles the war has created Check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 It turns out 2 June was THE day in European […]
Smoked beer and basketball, a Bamberg journey
Emmet Ryan hopped on a train to experience what Freak City was like when it was in the mood to become Sweep City. This is how BallinEurope experienced Bamberg on the weekend of Game 1 of the Bundesliga finals Right off the train there was no doubting what the big show in town was this […]
Diamantidis goes down like a champion
The end came for Dimitris Diamantidis last night in the OAKA. Emmet Ryan writes how the way in which his career was a perfect send off for the Panathinaikos legend Going out on top is wildly over-rated. With champions, people who have consistently got the big one over the course of their career, it leaves […]
CSKA win insane Euroleague title decider over Fenerbahce in OT
It looked like it was going to be a coronation for so long but the 2016 Euroleague championship game turned into one of the craziest title games in history. Emmet Ryan reports from a wild Mercedes-Benz Arena. Out of nowhere a game that looked like a rout turned into one of the most extraordinary clashes […]
Bowie, Berlin, Basketball
On the eve of the 2016 Euroleague Final Four, Emmet Ryan went for a walk around Berlin I, I can remember, standing, by the Wall. Too many times at this stage but Tuesday was the first since Bowie passed. His time in Berlin came while the city was still divided by the Mauer. Since it […]
BiE’s Euroleague Final Four Berlin Drinking Guide
There are certain things visitors to BallinEurope expect and when a Final Four hits Berlin, one of those is most definitely beer. Here’s Emmet Ryan’s guide to enjoying the nightlife away from the Mercedes-Benz Arena First off, to state the obvious, this list is in no way endorsed by Euroleague although don’t be surprised if […]
The Basketball Champions League – FIBA’s brand of hard ball
After a lengthy absence, part three of BallinEurope’s look at the civil war in European basketball continues with analysis of what the Champions League actually means for the sport. For past coverage check out Emmet Ryan’s features on the problems with a closed shop Euroleague and the need for a strong Eurocup FIBA wants back […]
Is a resurgent Dorsey the difference for Barcelona?
Emmet Ryan was in the Palau Blaugrana last Friday to witness the truly triumphant return of Joey Dorsey to FC Barcelona For the first 4 minutes and 27 seconds it looked the same. FC Barcelona, the jumbled mess of a roster that was on the wrong side of the playoff places, looked indecisive and vulnerable. […]
Fighting Football is foolish aka why Eurocup is vital
In the second part of out longform series on the business of basketball, Emmet Ryan looks at the vital role a secondary competition such as Eurocup plays in the overall growth of basketball in Europe. Part one, on the Euroleague proposal for next season, is here Football is big and people with money know this […]
Closing off sense – Euroleague, Champions League, and market stagnation
In the first of a series of pieces looking at the business and marketing of European basketball, Emmet Ryan reacts to the news that Euroleague may fully close off entry to the new 16 team competition The civil war has been ugly. The fans have been left hanging by and large. Money talks, naturally, but […]
Dan Nelms, from Steph Curry’s team mate to Irish league X factor
Dan Nelms was part of Steph Curry’s extraordinary story at Davidson but having not played since his days as a Wildcat, Nelms is back in basketball and on the verge of a big win Height in Ireland is relative. Google Docks is the tallest building in Dublin excluding church steeples yet only stands 67 metres, […]