European basketball leagues ranking: Italian hope and a surprise in Top 3 / News - Basketnews.com

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The season of the European club competitions has ended with the EuroLeague Final Four in Belgrade.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul were crowned as the EuroLeague champions for the second straight year, while Virtus Segafredo Bologna became the EuroCup winners and grabbed a golden ticket to the EuroLeague.

Meanwhile, the top of the FIBA Basketball Champions League was captured by the Spanish team for the third year in a row. This time it was Lenovo Tenerife.

At the lowest level - FIBA Europe Cup - Bahcesehir Istanbul got the first-place accolades.

BasketNews presents the ranking of European basketball leagues this season, based on appearances in four international club tournaments. Points are awarded to countries:

EuroLeague

1st place – 10 points 2nd-4th places – 7 points 5-8th places – 5 points 9-12th places – 3 points 13-15th places – 1 point

EuroCup and BCL

1st place – 5 points 2nd-4th places – 4 points 5-8th places – 3 points 9-16th places – 2 points

FIBA Europe Cup:

1 place – 1 point

For the sake of objectivity, the national average is added - the national points collected are divided by the number of teams participating in Europe.

8-9th place – Lithuania

EuroLeague: Zalgiris Kaunas (15th place, 1 point); EuroCup: Lietkabelis Panevezys (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL: Rytas Vilnius (Top 16, 2 points); FIBA Europe Cup: none; Final result:5 points

In the context of other countries, Lithuania is most affected by the Zalgiris' performance in the EuroLeague. 8 victories in 28 matches, the last place, and a ton of changes.

If Zalgiris had secured at least 10-12th spots, Lithuania would have overtaken the Adriatic League, whose performance in the EuroCup was slowed down by the Partizan fiasco and Crvena Zvezda, which regularly fail to enter the EuroLeague playoffs.

However, it is an undeniable fact that the Lithuanian flagship Zalgiris was the worst team in the strongest continental league and this strongly reflects the capacity of all clubs in the country.

Moving away from the EuroLeague, Lithuania did not look so bad. For example, Rytas beat multiple clubs in BCL: Hapoel (Israel), Igokea (Adriatic League), AEK, PAOK, Megabolt (Greece), EWE Baskets (Germany), Happy Casa, Dinamo (Italy), Pinar Karsiyaka, Besiktas (Turkey) and CB Miraflores (Spain).

Lietkabelis' season is both great and disappointing. It is a fabulous result for a low-budget team to take fifth place in Group A, but getting Virtus in the eighth final was painfully unlucky.

Lithuania does not have 12 clubs in Europe like Spain, and financial resources often limit many opportunities. The best example of this is the difference between this year's Zalgiris and Lietkabelis rosters. After doing a good job in the off-season, you can surprise the favorites.

8-9th place – Serbia

EuroLeague:Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (11th place, 3 points); EuroCup: Partizan NIS Belgrade(Round of 16, 2 points); BCL:none; FIBA Europe Cup:none; Final result: 5 points

Crvena Zvezda have improved their EuroLeague performance since last year, rising from 17th to 11th place. The Serbs, who were playoffs contenders for a long time, played a good season but did not make it to the playoffs. Meanwhile, their budget options are very different from other teams.

There are rumors that Partizan may become the second ABA team competing in the EuroLeague. However, Zeljko Obradovic's men, who stormed the EuroCup with great ambitions, were left without nothing.

The 2nd place in Group A was a positive signal for a successful season, but everything was wiped out by an unexpected defeat in the Round of 16 against Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

Taken out of context, Partizan recorded exactly the same result as in the 2020-21 season - ranked among the Top 16 teams. Still, the different financial situation and ambitions are now reflecting a disappointing performance.

Considering the Balkan resources, the season was neither surprising nor disappointing. The ambitious Partizan took a blow, but the Serbs had two clubs in the international space (one less than Lithuania) and recorded the same result.

7th place – Greece

EuroLeague:Olympiacos Piraeus (4th place, 7 points), Panathinaikos OPAP Athens (13th place, 1 point); EuroCup:Promitheas Patras (group stage, 0 points); BCL: Lavrio Megabolt (group stage, 0 points), AEK Athens (group stage, 0 points), PAOK Thessaloniki (group stage, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup:Peristeri Athens (group stage, 0 points), Iraklis Thessaloniki (group stage, 0 points), Ionikos Nikaias (group stage, 0 points); Final result: 8points.

Greek basketball on the international stage can be separated into two sides - Olympiacos and everybody else. The Reds returned to the EuroLeague Final Four after a five-year break but dramatically fell to Anadolu Efes Istanbul after Vasilije Micic's three-pointer.

Olympiacos won 19 games in the regular season and finished 2nd in the standings. The quarterfinal series against AS Monaco was difficult (3-2) but the final result should satisfy the trophy-needy organization. All that remains is winning the Greek championship and the season could be evaluated as a 10.

Speaking of the other Greek clubs it's total chaos. Panathinaikos' season in the EuroLeague was doomed from the very beginning: too many foreigners, chaos on the court, and a finish in 13th place with only 9 wins.

Additionally, Fragiskos Alvertis and Dimitris Diamantidis left the team's management roles, meaning the club will have to find new ways to get back to the EuroLeague elite. Panathinaikos haven't reached the playoffs since the 2017-2018 season.

The lone Greek team in the EuroCup was constantly pushed around as Promitheas won only 4 games in 18 matches and finished dead last in Group B.

Three clubs made it to the Basketball Champions League's tournament but none of them managed to go past the group stage. Only AEK Athens managed to reach the Top 16 stage last year.

6th place – Israel

EuroLeague:Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (quarterfinals, 5 points); EuroCup:none; BCL:Hapoel Holon (4th place, 4 points), Hapoel Jerusalem (play-in tournament, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup:Hapoel Eilat (group stage, 0 points), Hapoel Gilboa Galil Gan Ner (group stage, 0 points); Final result:9points.

Everything in Israel starts with Maccabi's results, which can be evaluated in two ways. If the Russian clubs hadn't been suspended from the EuroLeague competition, the team from Tel Aviv most likely wouldn't have made it to the playoffs.

However, Maccabi reached the playoffs from the 5th seed despite changing its head coach in the middle of the season.

The comeback to the EuroLeague playoffs after a seven-year drought was lackluster as Maccabi fell 0-3 to Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Nevertheless, it might be a chance for the Israeli club to get back to the EuroLeague elite if they avoid questionable signings during the offseason.

Israeli clubs' performances in the Basketball Champions League were split into two parts. Hapoel Jerusalem continue having a solid budget and an ambitious roster year after year but they fell in the play-in tournament this season. The last year was difficult as well with the team being eliminated in the group stage.

The team from Holon managed to improve its performance from last year though. In the 2020-21 season, they finished the campaign in the quarterfinals stage while the club managed to reach the Final Four stage this year.

Hapoel Holon have made the steps in the right direction and are thinking of capturing the title the next year.

If we compared the budgets and the performances, Holon should be evaluated as the most successful. Maccabi could have been even more solid if they avoided the changes and conflicts in the middle of the season, while the club from Jerusalem needs serious change as the current direction of the team seems to go nowhere.

4-5th place – Italy

EuroLeague:AX Armani Exchange Milan (quarterfinals, 5 points); EuroCup:Virtus Segafredo Bologna (1st place, 5 points), Umana Reyer Venice (Round of 16, 2 points), Dolomiti Energia Trento (group stage, 0 points); BCL:NutriBullet Treviso (Top 16, 2 points), Happy Casa Brindisi (group stage, 0 points), Dinamo Sassari (group stage, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup:UnaHotels Reggio Emilia (2nd place, 0 points); Final result: 14points.

Even though the entire season of AX Armani Exchange Milan was marked with injuries and coronavirus, the team managed to squeeze a pretty solid result - 3rd place in the regular season.

You couldn't hope for more as the team was devastated by even more injuries in the playoffs and fell to Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the quarterfinals 1-3. Nevertheless, the result of the Italian club should be marked as a downgrade since they were a shot away from the EuroLeague Final last year and ultimately finished 3rd.

The EuroCup trophy went to Italy this year as Virtus Segafredo Bologna triumphed in the competition. Sergio Scariolo's team ended the regular season fourth in Group B but defeated Lietkabelis Panevezys, ratiopharm Ulm, Valencia Basket, and Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the playoffs to win it all.The legendary club is finally back in the top-level competition and is looking to further increase the budget.

The situation with the two other teams is completely different.

Dolomiti Energia were dead last in Group A and only managed to reach one win in 16 tries, marking a steep decline from last year when the club was one step away from reaching the quarterfinals after winning 3 out of 6 Top 16 matches.

Umana Reyer did not reach the top as well. Although the team ended the regular season in 6th place in Group B, they didn't stand a chance against Metropolitans 92 in the Round of 16 (66-87). The team from Venice improved just a little bit from last season when they were eliminated in the group stage.

The Basketball Champions League was difficult for the Italians as two of the three teams managed to finish their year already in the group stage. Both Dinamo and Happy Casa only won 1 game in 6 tries in the group stage. We can call it a disappointing year for both teams as they reached the Top 16 stage last season.

Nutribullet managed to overcome the expectations, qualifying for the tournament, winning 4 games in the group stage, and reaching the Top 16 stage. The performance in the Top 16 was lackluster as the club lost all six matches.

The Italian teams were not extraordinary as the performances declined both in the EuroLeague and the Basketball Champions League. The only beam of hope is Virtus who reached the penultimate goal of having two teams from the country in the EuroLeague.

4-5th place – France

EuroLeague:AS Monaco (quarterfinals, 5 points), LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (14th place, 1 point); EuroCup:Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 (quarterfinals, 3 points), JL Bourg-en-Bresse (group stage, 0 points); BCL:SIG Strasbourg (quarterfinals, 3 points), JDA Dijon (Top 16, 2 points); FIBA Europe Cup:none; Final result: 14points.

AS Monaco's debut season in the EuroLeague surpassed everything they could've hoped before the start.

The season was marked with ups and downs but the club ultimately found its chemistry, finished the season 7th in the standings, and battled until the very last breath with Olympiacos in the quarterfinals (2-3). We will see Monaco in the next EuroLeague season as well, and the talks about the increased budget give hope for an even more solid performance.

As much as ASVEL's youth program is usually praised, the progress has been bleak if we look at the results. The team finished the season in 14th place last year and it remained the same this season, with Zalgiris being the only one behind.

Metropolitans 92 have become a powerhouse in the EuroCup with two consecutive years of solid results. The French team made it to the quarterfinals last year, finished 3rd in Group A this year, and once again reached the quarterfinals stage.

SIG Strasbourg are starting to get the name of a playoff team in the Basketball Champions League. After reaching the Final Four last year, the team managed to get to the quarterfinals this time. Although the result is still solid, the curve is heading downwards. JDA Dijon improved though, reaching the Top 16 after not making it past the group stage last year.

The French clubs often have limited financial resources due to enormously high taxes in the country. New powerhouses are slow to form but Monaco and Metropolitans 92 performances show that France remains among the strongest countries in the continent.

3rd place – Germany

EuroLeague:Bayern Munich (quarterfinals, 5 points), ALBA Berlin (10th place, 3 points); EuroCup:ratiopharm Ulm (quarterfinals, 3 points), Hamburg Towers (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL:MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (3rd place, 4 points), EWE Baskets Oldenburg (group stage, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup:Hakro Merlins Crailsheim (quarterfinals, 0 points), Medi Bayreuth (Top 16, 0 points); Final result: 17points.

Bayern Munich played one more solid season in the EuroLeague. Andrea Trinchieri's team made the playoffs for the second year in a row. After getting defeated by AX Armani Exchange Milan last year, the club fell to FC Barcelona.

ALBA's budget and the situation is slightly different. The amount of wins (12) hasn't changed during the past two years but we need to remember that teams played fewer matches this year due to the Russian teams being eliminated from the competition. The fact remains that ALBA continues to search for ways to reach the playoffs.

Ratiopharm Ulm was the most successful team in the EuroCup. Even though the regular season was nothing special (7 wins, 8th place), the team surprised everyone by defeating Joventut Badalona in the Round of 16.

Jaka Lakovic's team improved its result from last year when they didn't manage to make it past the group stage. Hamburg Towers made their tournament debut this year and even finished in a higher place in the group than Ratiopharm but their road to glory ended in the Round of 16.

German team's performances in the Basketball Champions League were completely different. While MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg made it to the Final Four, EWE Baskets' journey ended in the group stage. Germany had only one team in the tournament last year - Brose Bamberg. Having two teams now, the country remains among the strongest.

The German discipline is represented in the standings. You almost never hear about issues with salary payment or any conflicts within the team. The country has been improving the basketball product every year, and the performances of Bayern, Ratiopharm, and MHP Riesen solidify a third place in our ranking.

2nd place – Turkey

EuroLeague:Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (12th place, 3 points), Anadolu Efes Istanbul (1st place, 10 points); EuroCup:Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2nd place, 4 points), Turk Telekom Ankara (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL:Tofas Bursa (quarterfinals, 3 points), Darussafaka (Top 16, 2 points), Galatasaray (Top 16, 2 points), Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir (play-in tournament, 0 points), Besiktas (play-in tournament, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup:Bahcesehir Basket (1st place, 1 point); Final result: 27points.

The difference in results between the Turkish powerhouses was even more vivid this season. While Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul reached the playoffs last year, they didn't make it this season.

Sasa Djordjevic's team won only 10 matches and finished the regular season in 12th place.

Meanwhile, Anadolu Efes Istanbul won their second EuroLeague trophy in a row and are not going to let anyone take their place. Ergin Ataman's team finished the regular season in 3rd place last year, then defeated Real Madrid in the quarterfinal, CSKA Moscow in the semifinal, and FC Barcelona in the final.

The only thing that changed was the regular season positioning - 5th place. The team defeated AX Armani Exchange Milan in the quarterfinal, Vasilije Micic knocked out Olympiacos Piraeus in the semifinal, while the club defeated Real Madrid in the final.

The Turks were a step from the title in the EuroCup as Frutti Extra Bursaspor fell only to Virtus in the final. The team from Bursa finished the regular season 7th in Group B but managed to defeat Partizan NIS Belgrade, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, and MoraBanc Andorra in the playoffs.

The other team in the EuroCup - Turk Telekom - finished 6th in Group A. It meant a Round of 16 clash with Cedevita Olimpija where they had no chance to reach a win.

Turkey had an even more impressive list of teams in the Basketball Champions League than Spain with 5 teams participating in the competition.

However, Turkish teams didn't achieve anything special with only Tofas reaching the quarterfinals. Pinar Karsiyaka and Besiktas finished the year in the play-in stage, while Darussafaka and Galatasaray were defeated in the Top 16.

We had a similar situation last year when three teams reached the Top 16 stage but only one - Pinar Karsiyaka - made it to the playoffs and the Final Four later on.

The Turkish season on the international stage can be judged pretty positively. The country's club won the EuroLeague again, Frutti Extra Bursaspor created a cinderella story and the only thing separating Turkey from total domination was a team in the BCL Final Four.

By the way, Bahcesehir Basket won the FIBA Europe Cup as well.

1st place – Spain

EuroLeague:Real Madrid (2nd place, 7 points), FC Barcelona (3rd place, 7 points), Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (9th place, 3 points); EuroCup:Valencia Basket (semifinal, 4 points), MoraBanc Andorra (semifinal, 4 points), Gran Canaria (quarterfinals, 3 points), Joventut Badalona (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL:Lenovo Tenerife (1st place, 5 points), BAXI Manresa (2nd place, 4 points), Unicaja Malaga (quarterfinals, 3 points), Hereda San Pablo Burgos (group stage, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup:Casademont Zaragoza (group stage, 0 points); Final result: 42points.

Spain had the largest amount of teams in European competitions as usual - 12. That's two-thirds of the local Liga Endesa where 18 teams take part.

Two teams made it to the EuroLeague Final Four - FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two clubs being at this stage surprised nobody as the level of their players and budget almost dictate such an outcome each year. The Catalan team finished the regular season in 1st place, while Real were 4th.

The two teams met in the semifinal with the Royal club being triumphant. Pablo Laso's team didn't manage to stop Anadolu Efes in the final, to whom it was the second EuroLeague trophy in a row.

Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz got the stuff together during the last part of the season but it wasn't enough. 12 wins did not guarantee a spot in the EuroLeague playoffs, a place they last reached in the 2018-2019 season.

The Spanish teams did very well in the group stage of the EuroCup. Joventut Badalona triumphed in Group A, while Gran Canaria was victorious in Group B. Valencia Basket did not do much worse with the second-place finish in Group B, while MoraBanc Andorra climbed to 4th place in Group A.

Even though the Spanish teams did not have competition in the regular season, the situation changed in the playoffs.

Joventut were defeated by ratiopharm Ulm in the Round of 16 already, Gran Canaria finished their performance in the quarterfinals after falling to MoraBanc Andorra. None of the teams reached the final - both Andorra and Valencia were defeated in the semifinal stage.

The Basketball Champions League trophy was captured by a Spanish team for the third year in a row. Hereda San Pablo Burgos, the team that won the tournament two years in a row, was eliminated in the group stage.

Meanwhile, Lenovo Tenerife and BAXI Manresa were solid all year round and battled for the title in the final with the team from Tenerife ultimately capturing the glory.

After switching the EuroCup to BCL, Unicaja Malaga finished the group stage 1st in the standings, the Top 16 stage in the 2nd place, but fell to BAXI Manresa in the quarterfinal.

Overall, Spain has rich clubs that are going to dominate the European tournaments for years to come. Since the introduction of the Basketball Champions League in 2016, not a single season has passed with one of the three main competitions not being won by one of the Spanish clubs.

European leagues' performance ranking by points:

Place Country Points Team with most points 1 Spain 42 Barcelona and Real Madrid - 7 each 2 Turkey 27 Anadolu Efes – 10 3 Germany 17 Bayern – 5 4-5 France 14 Monaco – 5 4-5 Italy 14 Armani Exchange and Virtus - 5 each 6 Israel 9 Maccabi – 5 7 Greece 8 Olympiacos – 7 8-9 Serbia 5 Crvena Zvezda – 3 8-9 Lithuania 5 Rytas and Lietkabelis - 2 each

European leagues' performance ranking by points average:

Place Country Points No. of teams in Europe Average 1 Spain 42 12 3.5 2 Turkey 27 10 2.7 3 Serbia 5 2 2.5 4 France 14 6 2.33 5 Germany 17 8 2.13 6 Israel 9 5 1.8 7 Italy 14 8 1.75 8 Lithuania 5 3 1.67 9 Greece 8 9 0.89 Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.