Best European basketball leagues: Spain's dominance and disappointing Italy / News - Basketnews.com

Spain ranks first with a 27-point lead over Turkey and France. Germany and Italy have experienced a steep fall, making a comparison between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Credit: Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire, Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS, EuroLeague Basketball via GettyImages Credit Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire, Erikas Ovčarenko/BNS, EuroLeague Basketball via GettyImages

The EuroLeague Final Four 2023 marked the thrilling conclusion to the European club basketball season. Therefore, BasketNews Staff Writer Lukas Katilius is delighted to present the second consecutive ranking of European basketball countries.

This year, Real Madrid emerged as the best team in the EuroLeague. With Sergio Llull's game-winning shot that sealed the victory over Olympiacos Piraeus, Los Blancos claimed its 11th EuroLeague title in Kaunas.

Gran Canaria became the champions of the EuroCup. Despite securing the right to participate in next season's EuroLeague, the team from the Canary Islands might opt out of this privilege, as reported by BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas.

Meanwhile, Telekom Baskets Bonn celebrated their triumph in the FIBA Basketball Champions League. Prior to their victory, Spanish teams had reigned supreme in this tournament for three consecutive years.

At the lowest tier, the FIBA Europe Cup, the Polish team Anwil Wloclawek got the first-place accolades.

BasketNews presents the season's ranking of European countries based on their performances in the four international club tournaments. Countries are awarded points according to their achievements:

EuroLeague

1st place – 10 points 2nd-4th places – 7 points 5-8th places – 5 points 9-12th places – 3 points 13-15th places – 2 points 16-18th 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, each country's average is included -- the country's collected points are divided by the number of teams participating in Europe.

To view the 2021-22 ranking, please click here.

Unlisted countries that accumulated points

13th place – Poland Anwil Wloclawek (FIBA Europe Cup champions, 1 point) 11-12th places– Montenegro Buducnost Podgorica (EuroCup Round of 16, 2 points) 11-12th places– Great Britain London Lions (EuroCup Round of 16, 2 points) 10th place – Ukraine Prometey Slobozhanske (EuroCup semi-final, 4 points)

9th place – Serbia

EuroLeague: Crvena Zvezda (10th place, 3 points); Partizan (6th place, 5 points) EuroCup: none; BCL:none; FIBA Europe Cup:none; Final result: 8 points. 2021-22 season result: 5 points, 8-9th places.

For the second year in a row, Serbia sent only two teams to Europe, which places them behind all the teams in the top nine rankings.

However, Serbia had an opportunity to increase its points from last year due to a significant Partizan Belgrade's rise. Last season, Partizan was considered one of the favorites in the EuroCup, but they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Frutti Extra Bursaspor.

This year, Zeljko Obradovic's players reached the EuroLeague quarterfinals, coming incredibly close to securing a spot in the Final Four. Partizan held a 2-0 series lead but ultimately succumbed to a 2-3 defeat against the eventual champions, Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, another Serbian powerhouse, Crvena Zvezda, increased its budget but failed to match its accomplishments.

The backcourt line consisting of Luca Vildoza, Nemanja Nedovic, and Facundo Campazzo appeared formidable enough for the EuroLeague playoffs, but Dusko Ivanovic's side fell short of that mark.

Moving up from the 11th to the 10th position in a year doesn't bring significant changes to their point tally in this ranking.

In conclusion, the top Serbian clubs have displayed competitiveness at the highest level. Nevertheless, it would be intriguing to witness the emergence of other teams in tournaments like the EuroCup or Basketball Champions League.

KK FMP came close to qualifying for the BCL group stage but narrowly missed out, losing in the final of the qualifying tournament. Perhaps a new club will rise to prominence next season, bringing fresh excitement to the European basketball scene.

7-8th place – Lithuania

EuroLeague:Zalgiris Kaunas (7th place, 5 points) EuroCup:Lietkabelis Panevezys (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL: Rytas Vilnius (Top 16, 2 points); FIBA Europe Cup:none; Final result: 9points. 2021-22 season result: 5points, 8-9th places.

Lithuania's rise in the rankings can be attributed to the recovery of Zalgiris. Last year, the Lithuanian powerhouse struggled big time, finishing last in the EuroLeague and failing to reach the Lithuanian Basketball League final.

Under the guidance of Kazys Maksvytis, Zalgiris made a strong comeback, surprising many with their exceptional performance.

While this year's team may not possess outstanding talent compared to the previous years, their strong defense has been the key to their victories. After a four-year hiatus, Zalgiris made it to the EuroLeague playoffs, where they stumbled against FC Barcelona, 0-3.

On the other hand, Rytas' performance in the Top 16 was neither impressive nor disappointing. Given the level of BCL competition, it was not surprising for a team with similar abilities to reach the Final Four in Malaga.

However, the tournament format played a crucial role, with every match carrying significant importance. Unfortunately for Rytas, they fell short in achieving unexpected victories, such as against Bonn.

Compared to last year, Lietkabelis had the potential to advance further, considering their home-court advantage in the Round of 16 against Paris Basketball.

However, they couldn't capitalize on the opportunity and lost in the first playoff round. Nevertheless, the club's budget, team depth, and overall talent level indicate that reaching the playoffs is still a praiseworthy achievement.

Looking ahead, Lithuania may see the emergence of a new team in European competitions -- BC Wolves. Although the specific tournament is yet to be determined, club president Rimantas Kaukenas stated that the chances of securing a ticket to a European tournament next season are slim.

Understandably, other countries currently view the new team as one that lost in the Lithuanian League quarterfinals to the relatively smaller budget squad, CBet Jonava.

7-8th place – Italy

EuroLeague: Emporio Armani Milan (12th place, 3 points), Virtus Bologna (14th place, 2 points); EuroCup: Umana Reyer Venice (Round of 16, 2 points), Germani Brescia (Round of 16, 2 points), Dolomiti Energia Trento (group stage, 0 points); BCL: Dinamo Sassari (group stage, 0 points), UnaHotels Reggio Emilia (group stage, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup: Happy Casa Brindisi (group stage, 0 points); Final result:9points. 2021-22 season result: 14 points, 4-5th places.

The club season for Italian teams, unfortunately, was quite uninspiring. Despite having resources, only two Italian clubs managed to make it past the regular season and compete in the playoffs, which speaks volumes about their overall performance.

Among these clubs, Emporio Armani stands out as the most disappointing team. With a big budget and star players like Kevin Pangos, Brandon Davies, Nicolo Melli, and Shavon Shields, their chances of reaching the EuroLeague playoffs began to fade as early as January.

Although the Milan club showed signs of improvement towards the end of the regular season with the arrival of Shabazz Napier, their efforts to secure a playoff spot fell short, despite winning eight out of nine games.

Virtus, which was considered a playoff contender at the start of the season, quickly revealed their lack of both talent and youth. It became evident that being a leader in the EuroLeague becomes challenging when your front-runner is the 36-year-old guard Milos Teodosic.

Italian teams' performances in other tournaments were similarly underwhelming. Venice and Brescia failed to progress beyond the Round of 16 in the EuroCup, while both Italian teams were eliminated at the BCL group stage.

Despite losing three positions in the rankings over the course of the year, Italian basketball still possesses significant potential for growth. With Milan and Virtus likely to learn from their mistakes, better results can be expected.

6th place – Germany

EuroLeague: Bayern Munich (16th place, 1 point), ALBA Berlin (15th place, 2 points); EuroCup: Ulm Ratiopharm (quarterfinals, 3 points), Towers Hamburg (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL: Telekom Baskets Bonn (1st place, 5 points), MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (play-in, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup: Brose Bamberg (quarterfinals, 0 points), Crailsheim Merlins (Top 16, 0 points), Niners Chemnitz (Top 16, 0 points); Final result: 13 points. 2021-22 season result: 17 points, 3rd place.

Germany is another country that experienced a decline in this ranking. The EuroLeague season has been disappointing for German teams, particularly FC Bayern Munich.

Despite reaching the playoffs for two consecutive years and pushing the series to the fifth game both times, this year, Andrea Trinchieri's team has performed well below expectations, as injuries made a heavy impact.

ALBA, on the other hand, has been participating in the EuroLeague for the fourth straight season but has yet to establish itself as a serious contender for the playoffs.

Their highest achievement in the regular season was last year, finishing in 11th place. However, it's worth noting that three Russian teams were eliminated from the tournament at that time, potentially impacting ALBA's placement.

The standout success of the season comes from Telekom Baskets in the Champions League. The Bonn-based club became the first German team to triumph in one of the top three prestigious European tournaments.

Under the leadership of Tuomas Iisalo, Telekom Baskets showcased remarkable dominance, winning 15 out of 17 matches in the BCL tournament.

With a total of nine clubs competing on the international stage, Germany boasts a respectable representation.

However, this season has highlighted the importance of not thinking too good about themselves, as the only noteworthy achievement was Telekom Baskets' campaign in the Basketball Champions League.

4-5th place – Greece

EuroLeague:Olympiacos Piraeus (2nd place, 7 points), Panathinaikos Athens (17th place, 1 point); EuroCup:Promitheas Patras (quarterfinals, 3 points); BCL: AEK Athens (quarterfinals, 3 points), PAOK Thessaloniki (play-in, 0 points), Peristeri B.C. (play-in, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup:none; Final result:14 points. 2021-22 season result: 8 points, 7th place.

Considering the relatively small number of Greek teams (six, the number is only higher than Serbia and Lithuania) participating in European competitions, Greece has achieved an admirable outcome.

They came agonizingly close to an even stronger result, with Olympiacos experiencing a heartbreaking loss in the EuroLeague final due to Sergio Llull's game-winning jumper, propelling Madrid to victory.

Nevertheless, the Piraeus team has reached the Final Four for the second consecutive year, contributing to half of Greece's overall points tally.

Meanwhile, Panathinaikos faced significant challenges. Last year, the team finished in 13th place, and this year, despite the participation of 18 teams, they ended up in second-to-last position.

In general, the Athens-based team appears more like a pack of individually-strong players plagued by internal conflicts and the unpredictable behavior of owner Dimitrios Giannakopoulos.

In comparison to last year, Greek teams stepped up in the EuroCup and BCL, where they failed to secure a single point in 2021-22. Promitheas made a lasting impression by reaching the EuroCup quarterfinals. AEK came close to achieving the BCL Final Four but fell short in the decisive quarterfinal match against Hapoel Jerusalem.

Can things improve? It may be worth examining the future of Panathinaikos and the changes in store for the club. With Ergin Ataman slated to become the team's head coach next season, there's hope for a more intriguing performance.

However, the club's success will also hinge on whether a more coherent vision is implemented, overcoming the tumultuous years behind them.

4-5th place – Israel

EuroLeague:Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (5th place, 5 points); EuroCup:Hapoel Tel Aviv (quarterfinals, 3 points); BCL: Hapoel Jerusalem (2nd place, 4 points), Hapoel Holon (Top 16, 2 points); FIBA Europe Cup: Hapoel Haifa (Top 16, 0 points), Hapoel Gilboa Galil (group stage, 0 points); Final result:14 points. 2021-22 season result: 9 points, 6th place.

Another country that fielded six teams but accumulated a significant number of points. Israel, despite facing a shortage of local players, showcased the talents of their overseas players, which also reflected in their improved ranking this time.

Last summer, many raised questions when Maccabi introduced 10 new players and appointed a new head coach, Oded Kattash. However, their efforts paid off as the team, led by Lorenzo Brown and Wade Baldwin, advanced to the EuroLeague quarterfinals, narrowly losing to AS Monaco in a 5-game series.

Israel was absent from the EuroCup last year, but this year, they managed to secure three points thanks to the Hapoel Tel Aviv performance.

Israeli teams also increased their points tally from 4 to 6 in the Champions League. The Holon club, which reached the Top 16 this year, previously made it to the Final Four, while Hapoel Jerusalem arrived at the 2022-23 BCL final.

Israel deserves praise for their impressive European results. However, it may be unrealistic to expect the country to achieve much more in the near future. While Maccabi might have a chance to reach the EuroLeague Final Four, it remains a difficult feat.

Although the Israeli clubs performed well in the EuroCup and BCL, such success cannot be guaranteed every year. Maybe it's time for a serious competitor to emerge for Maccabi.

2nd-3rd place – France

EuroLeague:AS Monaco (3rd place, 7 points), LDCL ASVEL Villeurbanne (18th, 1 point); EuroCup:Paris Basketball (quarterfinals, 3 points), JL Bourg (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL: SIG Strasbourg (quarterfinals, 3 points), JDA Dijon (Top 16, 2 points), Limoges CSP (Top 16, 2 points); FIBA Europe Cup: Cholet (2nd place, 0 points); Final result: 20 points. 2021-22 season result: 14 points, 4-5th place.

Monaco concluded its second EuroLeague season with an admirable third-place finish. Despite boasting a significant budget and high-class players, their ability to establish a distinct identity so quickly is truly impressive.

Although formally regarded as a separate country, Monaco competes in the French League and must comply with the quotas for local players, hence being classified as France in the rankings.

The other French team in the EuroLeague, ASVEL, doesn't garner as much praise. Over the course of four years, their EuroLeague rankings have situated at 15-14-14-18th places.

Victor Wembanyama departed the team last summer, and another world-class talent Zaccharie Risacher is now contemplating leaving as well. These developments indicate that even the team's primary goal of developing players for the main team is not being fulfilled sufficiently.

The French teams have been competitive in the BCL. All three clubs progressed beyond the group stage, and Strasbourg made it to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

While Metropolitans 92 were absent from the EuroCup, JL Bourg, which missed the playoffs last year, made a step forward. Paris Basketball also joined the competition and caused an upset by eliminating higher-seeded Lietkabelis in the Round of 16.

There is a small hope ASVEL can make a breakthrough in the EuroLeague. Although French teams often contend with limited budgets due to hefty taxes, Zalgiris' example proves that financial resources are not the sole determinant of success.

If Paris Basketball emerges as a formidable force in European basketball, it may warrant a discussion at the EuroLeague office regarding ASVEL's place in the continent's premier tournament.

2nd-3rd place – Turkey

EuroLeague: Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (8th place, 5 points), Anadolu Efes Istanbul (11th place, 3 points); EuroCup: Turk Telekom Ankara (2nd place, 4 points), Frutti Extra Bursaspor (Round of 16, 2 points); BCL: Bahcesehir Koleji (Top 16, 2 points), Galatasaray NEF (Top 16, 2 points), Darussafaka Lassa Istanbul (Top 16, 2 points), Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir (play-in, 0 points), Tofas Bursa (play-in, 0 points); FIBA Europe Cup: Gaziantep (quarterfinals, 0 points); Final result:20 points. 2021-22 season result: 27 points, 2nd place.

When it comes to the number of teams (10) and capacity, perhaps the only country that can rival Spain is Turkey. However, the Turkish teams did not achieve anything remarkable in Europe this season.

It's evident that Anadolu Efes took a significant portion of points away from the Turks, who had won the EuroLeague two years in a row previously. Unfortunately, this year, they failed to make it to the playoffs.

Changes are expected in the Istanbul team, with the possibility of Ergin Ataman being replaced by Erdem Can.

Meanwhile, Fenerbahce returned to the EuroLeague playoffs. Despite reaching the quarterfinals and giving a five-game fight, Fenerbahce eventually stumbled against finalists Olympiacos.

Turkey once again had five clubs competing in the BCL, but it's difficult to understand why none of them managed to reach the Final Four. Last year, at least Tofas made it to the quarterfinals, but this year, three teams were eliminated in the Top 16, and two more in the play-in tournament.

However, the Turkish teams performed well in the EuroCup. For the second consecutive year, a team from Turkey reached the tournament final, with Turk Telekom replacing Bursa this season.

Having 10 teams is almost as many as Spain, but the Turkish teams' overall performance was disappointing. Fenerbahce and Turk Telekom slightly improved the overall picture, but Anadolu Efes and the BCL teams significantly weakened it. The results must be better next year.

1st place – Spain

EuroLeague:Real Madrid (1st place, 10 points), FC Barcelona (4th place, 7 points), Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (9th place, 3 points), Valencia Basket (13th place, 2 points); EuroCup: Gran Canaria (1st place, 5 points), Joventut Badalona (semifinals, 4 points); BCL: Lenovo Tenerife (3rd place, 4 points), Unicaja Malaga (4th place, 4 points), BAXI Manresa (quarterfinals, 3 points), UCAM Murcia (quarterfinals, 3 points); Surne Bilbao Basket (Top 16, 2 points); FIBA Europe Cup: none; Final result:47 points. 2021-22 season result: 42 points, 1st place.

The 27-point gap from second place perfectly illustrates the level of dominance that Spanish clubs have achieved in European basketball.

All 11 teams that participated in European tournaments contributed points to the rankings, with everything starting from the excellent performances in the EuroLeague.

It must be acknowledged that as long as Barcelona and Real remain undisputed participants in the EuroLeague Final Four, Spain will continue to dominate.

It becomes even more challenging to compete with them when one of the Spanish giants claims the championship, as was the case this year. We must also mention Baskonia, which consistently participate in the EuroLeague playoff race, and a high-level team, Valencia Basket.

Spanish clubs also asserted their dominance in the EuroCup, with Gran Canaria emerging as the champions. The playoff tree brought Joventut and Gran Canaria together in the semis, preventing a potential clash between the two teams in the final.

The Basketball Champions League has been dubbed the Spanish tournament by some, given that Spanish representatives had won the trophy for three consecutive years previously: San Pablo Burgos and Lenovo Tenerife.

Although that dominance has been stopped for now, two Spanish teams still managed to make it to the BCL Final Four. Furthermore, Murcia faced Unicaja in the quarterfinals, while Bilbao found themselves in the Top 16 group alongside two other Spanish teams.

The only thing remaining is for Spain to have a mid-level team in the FIBA Europe Cup. If they can secure a victory, Spain would be akin to the United States in international basketball.

Performance ranking of European countries by points:

Place Country Points Team with most points 1 Spain 47 Real Madrid – 10 2-3 Turkey 20 Fenerbahce – 5 2-3 France 20 Monaco – 7 4-5 Israel 14 Maccabi – 5 4-5 Greece 14 Olympiacos – 7 6 Germany 13 Telekom Baskets – 5 7-8 Italy 9 Emporio Armani – 3 7-8 Lithuania 9 Zalgiris – 5 9 Serbia 8 Partizan – 5

Performance ranking of European countries by average:

Place Country Points No. of teams in Europe Average 1 Spain 47 11 4.27 2 Serbia 8 2 4 3 Lithuania 9 3 3 4 France 20 8 2.5 5-6 Israel 14 6 2.33 5-6 Greece 14 6 2.33 7 Turkey 20 10 2 8 Germany 13 9 1.44 9 Italy 9 8 1.13 Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.