This will be the strongest season so far in the Euroleague
This will be the strongest season so far in the Euroleague
The main European competition changed the format from 16 to 18 teams. But only increasing the number of clubs involved is not the reason for the growth of the Euroleague. There are many factors implied. The first one is the restrictions applied for the American players in China, who are finding now the European market even more attractive.
Another issue seems to be the max contract for many players in the NBA that made a huge salary gap between the stars and the rest of the team. That’s why some teams in Europe can offer the same amount of money or a bit more for NBA bench players, converting them in important figures in order to reach the playoff.
This season the number of ex-NBA players that have joined the Euroleague will be huge compared with the previous years. Almost all the European clubs engaged in the most important competition of the continent have signed already at least one ex-NBA star: Nikola Mirotic (F.C. Barcelona) Greg Monroe (Bayern), Shelvin Mack (Olimpia Milano) Nik Stauskas (Baskonia), Elijah Bryant and Quincy Acy ( Maccabi Tel Aviv), Ron Baker and Kostas Koufos (CSKA), Jimmer Fredette and Wesley Johnson (PAO) and so on. These players are added to the other ex-NBAers who were present already last year in Europe and will continue as well this season (Derrick Williams, Joffrey Lauvergne, Tarik Black etc.).
Last but not least, now, it seems that we have the highest number of clubs who can be a real title contender in the next Euroleague season. Between them, in order of the quality of the roster, we can name: F.C. Barcelona, Anadolu Efes, Fenerbahce, CSKA, Khimki, Real Madrid, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Panathinaikos and Olimpia Milano. The other clubs have no chance to win the trophy, but they can be trouble makers for any other competitors during the regular season.
Gratian Cormos
