FIBA 1198
Ireland’s men know their fate but what’s their future?
Having drawn Croatia and Luxembourg in the third round of FIBA EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualification, Ireland’s path over the next cycle or two has become clearer The draw could have been a lot worse but there was only so much better that it could have really gotten. That’s the nature of the pre-qualification format for EuroBasket […]
Malaga’s hosting win is the secondary story in BCL F4 drama
Unicaja Malaga fans will get to watch their team challenge for the Basketball Champions League title in their own arena but the decision is shrouded in drama as Hapoel Jerusalem missed out on hosting I am often wrong and rarely informed. I said as much last night as the expectations over where the Basketball Champions […]
Irish Pat Connaughton steps up as Giannis watches with joy
While the Greek Freak was forced to sit with injury, Pat Connaughton stepped up off the bench big time for the Milwaukee Bucks The European connection with the Milwaukee Bucks is well known, after all they’ve got the two time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brother Thanasis on the roster. There is, of course, […]
Telekom Baskets Bonn finally get their big shot
They have waited so long to be in the conversation when it matters. On Tuesday night, in front of their own fans, Telekom Baskets Bonn earned their shot by making it to the Basketball Champions League Final Four. Emmet Ryan on the journey for a fanbase that has earned these kinds of nervy nights. I […]
Salary caps and Europe are an odd mix
With France announcing it was bringing in some form of salary cap for LNB from next season, Emmet Ryan on why such a format is a challenge on the continent in near any form France has announced it is bringing in a salary cap, understandably drawing the odd comparison to the NBA, but France is […]
Wembanyama’s wild run
While he’s already a lock for top pick in the NBA Draft, there’s a two week run coming up that promises the most in-depth look at what Victor Wembanyama offers at the next level Think, if you would, of this Friday as the amuse-bouche. Victor Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 side play a home game against JDA […]
Winning is a habit and Bonn’s players like it
Telekom Baskets Bonn is one of the most in-form teams in Europe right now, winning 15 of its last 16, but Emmet Ryan wonders if this momentum can be used to finally claim a major honour There’s no shortage of silver. Telekom Baskets Bonn have been the second best team in Germany five times and […]
What if the BAL added some tiers?
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has done a great job of shining the sport’s spotlight on club basketball on the continent but Emmet Ryan has an idea entirely focused on development to build out the brand The BAL has done something which no other effort at hoops on the continent has ever managed before, it’s […]
Gavin Ware knows his worth
After another ridiculously efficient performance in the Basketball Champions League (BCL) from Gavin Ware, Emmet Ryan explains why the big man may be the most self-aware player in Europe right now Gavin Ware had the best performance you didn’t see this past week. In exactly 20 minutes on the floor he had 24 points on […]
Sergio Scariolo is the product of lifelong learning
With his fourth EuroBasket title being won two Sundays ago, making it his fifth major international trophy as a head coach to go along with a NBA championship as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors, Sergio Scariolo has had quite a career and he’s managed to stay relevant by refusing to stop learning. Emmet Ryan […]
Markkanen’s maturity will be a big plus for Utah
Lauri Markkanen could have let his trade on the eve of EuroBasket 2022 be a distraction, instead he showed just how comfortable he is in his game no matter what is written on his jersey. Emmet Ryan on how the Finn’s displays are good new for Utah Jazz fans Given I’ve already posted a piece […]
The Jazz and Bojan need a painless divorce
He’s a Jazz man for now but Bojan Bogdanovic clearly needs to move on from Utah. Emmet Ryan on how his body language spoke loudly while his mouth said little at EuroBasket This is not a matter of effort. It was clear Bojan Bogdanovic put in work for Croatia at EuroBasket but the distractions of […]