European professional club basketball system


Professional basketball clubs in Europe can compete in a number of different competitions, including national leagues, regional leagues, and continental competitions. It is therefore possible for clubs from some countries to take part in three levels of competition in the same season. Clubs usually qualify for European competitions through performance in their national or regional leagues.

Continental competitions

There are currently four different competitions which are branded as Europe-wide, controlled by three governing bodies - two by Euroleague Basketball, one by FIBA and one by FIBA Europe. Clubs which compete in these competitions also play in their national and/or regional leagues. Clubs usually qualify for these competitions based on their performance in the national or regional league in the previous season.
The EuroLeague is the European premier competition which is organised by Euroleague Basketball, and each year involves clubs from 10 countries.
The EuroCup is the Euroleague Basketball's secondary level competition, and currently made up of 24 teams from around Europe. Clubs from over 30 countries have taken part. The two finalists of the EuroCup qualify to the EuroLeague next season.
The Champions League, which began in 2016, is the FIBA's competition which is the rival of the Euroleague Basketball competitions. Initially, FIBA had intended to replace the EuroLeague, but this was rejected by the clubs involved, so FIBA began its own rival competition. The Champions League involves 32 teams each year; to date clubs from over 20 countries have taken part.
The Europe Cup is the FIBA Europe's competition. 32 teams compete, and the teams which did not enter in the Champions League regular season has the option to drop down into the regular season of the Europe Cup. As of 2019, clubs from over 30 national federations have taken part.
The names of the various European and regional club competitions have frequently changed over time.

List of competitions

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FIBA European Champions Cup / FIBA European League
FIBA European Cup Winners' Cup / FIBA Saporta Cup
FIBA Korać Cup
EuroLeague
ULEB Cup / EuroCup
Basketball Champions League
FIBA EuroChallenge / FIBA Europe Cup
FIBA EuroCup Challenge
In addition to national leagues in individual countries, there are leagues which include clubs from several countries.
The ABA League, commonly called the Adriatic League, began in 2001, and consists of clubs from the former Yugoslavia. At different times, the league has also included clubs from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Israel. Clubs generally also compete in their own national leagues in the same season, after the conclusion of the ABA League season. The winner of the league qualifies for the next season's EuroLeague.
The VTB United League is made up of mostly Russian clubs, as well as a smaller number of clubs from nearby countries - currently Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan and Poland. It serves as the top division of the Russian national league system. One club from the league qualifies for the next season's EuroLeague, in addition to CSKA Moscow, which holds a EuroLeague license.
Other multi-national leagues in Europe have included the Baltic Basketball League, the Central European Basketball League, and the Balkan International Basketball League.

National leagues

Each country generally has its own league system, with various divisions which involve promotion and relegation, as well as playoffs following the regular season. Typically, a league system will include professional and semi-professional clubs at the top, with amateur clubs lower down.
The Spanish Liga ACB is generally considered to be the highest quality national league in Europe, and contributes at least four clubs to the EuroLeague each season. Other leagues among the strongest include Russia's VTB United League, Turkey's BSL, the Greek Basket League, Italy's LBA, and the LNB Pro A in France.