EuroLeague

EuroLeague (currently branded as the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for sponsorship reasons) is the premier professional basketball club competition in Europe. It is organized by Euroleague Basketball, a private company founded in 2000 that broke away from FIBA's management of European club competitions. The league features a fixed roster of licensed clubs, most of which are based in countries such as Spain, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Italy, Russia (until 2022), Lithuania, Serbia, Germany, and France. The competition is known for its high level of play, passionate fan bases, and a format that includes a regular season, playoffs, and a Final Four to determine the champion. The EuroLeague is widely considered one of the strongest basketball leagues in the world outside the NBA. Its commercial rights are managed by Euroleague Basketball, and the league has secured major sponsorships, including a title deal with Turkish Airlines. The league's headquarters are in Barcelona, Spain. Over the years, the EuroLeague has expanded its media reach through partnerships with broadcasters and digital platforms, and it operates a fantasy game and an official streaming service. The 2023–24 season included 18 teams, with the champion being decided at the Final Four. The league has faced challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the cancellation of the 2019–20 season, and the exclusion of Russian clubs following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Despite these issues, the EuroLeague remains a commercial and sporting powerhouse in European basketball.

EuroLeague was founded in 2000 when Euroleague Basketball, a private company led by club owners, took over the organization of the top European club competition from FIBA. The move followed disputes over the control and commercial direction of European basketball. The new league initially faced resistance from FIBA, but eventually gained recognition and became the dominant club competition in Europe. In its early years, the EuroLeague operated with a limited number of teams and introduced a Final Four format to crown its champion. Over time, the league expanded its reach and signed major sponsorship deals, including a title sponsorship with Turkish Airlines in 2010, which led to the competition being officially named the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The league also developed its digital presence, launching EuroLeague TV, a streaming service for international fans, and a fantasy basketball game. In 2015, the league introduced a new format with a round-robin regular season and expanded to 16 teams, later increasing to 18 teams. The EuroLeague has been a platform for many NBA players and European stars. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2019–20 season and disrupted subsequent seasons. In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian clubs were suspended from the competition. The league continues to be a major force in European sports, with a strong following and growing commercial revenues.

• 2022

  Russian clubs suspended following invasion of Ukraine.

• 2020

  Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

• 2015

  New format introduced with round-robin regular season and expanded to 16 teams.

• 2010

  Turkish Airlines becomes title sponsor, competition renamed Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

• 2000

  Euroleague Basketball founded and takes over organization of top European club competition from FIBA.

Top-tier professional basketball league in Europe, second only to the NBA in global basketball prestige.

• Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

  Top-tier professional basketball club competition in Europe.

• Final Four

  Season-ending tournament to determine the EuroLeague champion.

• EuroLeague TV

  Official streaming service for live and on-demand games.

• EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge

  Fantasy basketball game for fans.

• 2026.10

  Reported2026.10.09

  EuroLeague owners reject NBA's formal offer to form merged NBA Europe league[2]欧洲篮球联赛俱乐部老板拒绝NBA合并组建NBA Europe联赛的正式提议cnbc.com

  Earlier this week, EuroLeague basketball owners rejected a formal offer from the NBA to form a merged league that would become NBA Europe. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed confidence on Friday that a deal with EuroLeague to launch NBA Europe will still get done, describing the negotiation as ongoing.

  Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.

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1. 1Google Newsnews.google.com
2. 2欧洲篮球联赛俱乐部老板拒绝NBA合并组建NBA Europe联赛的正式提议cnbc.com