The new EuroLeague campaign promises an uncommon density of intrigue. Ettore Messina’s potential farewell run, Panathinaikos’s dynasty ambitions, Dimitris Itoudis’s noisy return with Hapoel, a fresh wave of young coaches and experimenters — there are more than enough reasons to tune in every round. Below is a big pre-season guide: one key idea, one big question, and one figure under pressure for each team.
20. "ASVEL": Long License, Short Bench
Key Idea. Tony Parker’s club still looks the weakest by roster quality, and the EuroLeague’s “long-term license” seems like the only solid guarantee in a choppy sea.
Head Coach. Pierric Poupet.
What Changed. Almost all notable faces left — from Theo Maledon and Paris Lee to Nil Sako and Andre Roberson. In came Thomas Heurtel, Glynn Watson, Bodian Massa, Zach Seljaas and a few other potentially interesting pieces — intriguing, not intimidating.
Under Pressure. Zach Seljaas: he proved in Germany he can be a stretch four; we’d like to see it at EuroLeague level too.
Big Question. What do they cling to in order not to sink to the bottom of the table? The answer likely lies in Poupet’s discipline and bursts from new faces.
Why Watch. ASVEL is a showcase for elite clubs. Watson, Seljaas and the hyper-athletic Mbaye Ndiaye are already knocking on the next level’s door.
19. "Baskonia": Galbiati’s Laboratory
Key Idea. After Pablo Laso, Baskonia pivoted to 41-year-old Paolo Galbiati — a rare fresh coaching voice in the EuroLeague.
Head Coach. Paolo Galbiati.
What Changed. Marquis Nowell, Hamidou Diallo and Matteo Spagnolo arrived; the club is trying to reboot Rodions Kurucs and Luka Samanic.
Under Pressure. Hamidou Diallo — he must redefine himself for Europe’s demands and showcase his athleticism without chaos.
Big Question. Is this a years-long process or will progress be visible right away? If Marcus Howard returns to top-scorer form and Diallo fits, Baskonia’s backcourt could really pop.
Why Watch. Howard’s chase for the Alphonso Ford Trophy is a storyline of its own.
18. "Virtus": Fewer Veterans, More Tempo
Key Idea. Bologna shed a heavy veteran layer and became younger, faster and more athletic.
Head Coach. Duško Ivanović.
What Changed. The league’s reigning scoring champ Carsen Edwards arrived; Derrick Alston was added; Saliou Niang and Karim Jallow inject energy.
Under Pressure. Derrick Alston: he chose Virtus over “bigger” offers — expectations for his impact are sky-high.
Big Question. Stability of players in new and expanded roles. There are several EuroLeague newcomers at once, and Muhammed Diouf’s time to be a force in the paint has come.
Why Watch. Edwards versus the league’s heavyweights is appointment viewing.
17. "Zalgiris": Local Magic Against Fragility
Key Idea. Kaunas went with its own — Tomas Masiulis takes over, and Zalgiris again believes in the power of its homegrown school.
Head Coach. Tomas Masiulis.
What Changed. Nigel Williams-Goss and Maodo Lo came in — excellent for the club’s scale, but both have worrying injury histories; at the five, the main bet is Moses Wright.
Under Pressure. Wright: the league is looking for the next “Josh Nebo case.”
Big Question. Will the “novelty effect” of Masiulis last over the marathon? Against him — bumpy prep and key leaders’ injury-proneness.
Why Watch. Can Williams-Goss get back to his “that guy” level from Lokomotiv? Kaunas overpaid precisely for that hope.
16. "Bayern": The ‘What If’ Season
Key Idea. All summer Munich celebrated Rokas Jokubaitis’s arrival — then a torn ACL in September flipped the plan on its head.
Head Coach. Gordie Herbert.
What Changed. Edwards, Booker and Weiler-Babb are gone; in came Kamar Baldwin, Wenyen Gabriel, Stefan Jović, David McCormack and a handful of role players.
Under Pressure. Xavier Rathan-Mayes — Europe is still weighing his true level.
Big Question. How far does Herbert’s magic reach? Name by name, Bayern has one of the most modest rosters in the upper half.
Why Watch. This is a team of opportunity: several role players will need to grow up live on air.
15. "Valencia": A Future-Proof Arena and Run-and-Gun Basketball
Key Idea. The club moved up a capital-city tier — in infrastructure and in style.
Head Coach. Pedro Martínez.
What Changed. Darius Thompson returned to the system, Nil Sako adds interior force, Omari Moore widens the offensive palette.
Under Pressure. Nineteen-year-old Sergio De Larrea — already Spain Supercopa MVP; the appetite is obvious.
Big Question. Will this “speed-crazy” rhythm work in Europe’s most conservative league, and will the lungs last a full marathon?
Why Watch. Jean Montero isn’t chasing “Best Young Player”; he’s aiming straight at the All-EuroLeague teams.
14. "Paris": Phenomenon Rebuilt From Scratch
Key Idea. Last season’s sensational version was stripped for parts, but the formula remains: even faster, pressing even higher.
Head Coach. Francesco Tabellini.
What Changed. Justin Robinson replaces TJ Shorts, Lamar Stevens is the “wing anchor,” Ismaël Bako holds down the five.
Under Pressure. Stevens — critical defensive work and a slice of leadership fall on him.
Big Question. How long will Tabellini’s fresh ideas hold at EuroLeague level, where innovation isn’t always embraced?
Why Watch. Nadir Hifi — last season’s Best Young Player. Now the first violin without caveats.
13. "Dubai": A Sheikh-Fueled Grand Premiere
Key Idea. The names are intoxicating: Dzanan Musa, Dwayne Bacon, Filip Petrusev, Davis Bertans. Building a team in one summer and stacking big statuses in one locker room is risky.</p >
Head Coach. Jurica Golemac.
What Changed. Nine signings from Madrid to Belgrade.
Under Pressure. Filip Petrusev — several attempts to “fit” big-time European basketball haven’t stuck yet.
Big Question. Who accepts a role below self-perception? Synchronization time is short; too many deals expire next summer.
Why Watch. The Dzanan Musa story: he couldn’t be Real’s leader — here he’ll try to be the absolute star.
12. "Maccabi": American Shopping 2.0
Key Idea. In tough circumstances, Tel Aviv once again leans into US-passport talent; Oded Katash is expected to stitch it together.
Head Coach. Oded Katash.
What Changed. Lonnie Walker, Jeff Dowtin and Oshae Brissett should bring scoring and athleticism; the crucial holds are Jaylen Hoard and Roman Sorkin.
Under Pressure. Walker — after a murky Zalgiris stint he must prove he was misunderstood.
Big Question. How the new backcourt fits Europe’s habits of structure and rhythm.
Why Watch. New GM Claudio Coldebella is famed for finds “off the second screen” — individual flashes are almost guaranteed.
11. "Barcelona": The Brand Lives, the Luxury Doesn’t
Key Idea. The Catalans have fully exited the “automatic super-club” zone; now they play against age and injuries.
Head Coach. Joan Peñarroya.
What Changed. The Clyburn–Shengelia duo would be great… if it were 2019. Parker, Anderson and part of the depth are gone.
Under Pressure. Nicolás Laprovíttola — after a serious injury, surrounded by veterans, he must tune the offense.
Big Question. How long can the weaknesses be masked? Núñez and Brizuela are injured before the start.
Why Watch. In the stars’ shadow lies a window for Huanyi Marcos, Myles Cale and Myles Norris. The kids must push the vets.
10. "Crvena Zvezda": Body Armor for the Regular Season
Key Idea. Belgrade renewed the perimeter and added “physicality.” This is a group built to ruin giants’ evenings any night.
Head Coach. Giannis Sfairopoulos.
What Changed. Chima Moneke was the market’s hottest name, Devonte’ Graham the big American experiment; the big-man rotation has impressive depth.
Under Pressure. Cody Miller-McIntyre — beyond organizing, they want the past scoring bite too.
Big Question. After Isaiah Canaan’s injury, is there enough shooting?
Why Watch. Which Graham shows up in Europe: from “breakout of the year” to “not needed even by the Spurs” — the range is wide.
9. "Partizan": Expensive, Loud, Nervy
Key Idea. The most expensive project in Serbian basketball added Shake Milton and Jabari Parker — but left a gaping hole at the five.
Head Coach. Željko Obradović.
What Changed. Miikka Muurinen — a young talent who must learn EuroLeague defense very quickly.
Under Pressure. Milton: basketball is taken more seriously in Belgrade than almost anywhere.
Big Question. How do you systematize an excess of creators with a shortage of size?
Why Watch. “Skinny Jesus” Muurinen — a rare case of a youngster who should get real minutes right now.
8. "Milan": Messina’s Swan Song
Key Idea. The roster is very good, yet the “Milan” brand has long meant “the potential is there — the offense stumbles.” This is Ettore Messina’s final season.
Head Coach. Ettore Messina.
What Changed. Lorenzo Brown and Marko Gudurić fortify the perimeter, Vlatko Čančar returns to action, Devin Booker is the “anti-Mirotić” in efficiency and temperament.
Under Pressure. Čančar — after long years of NBA bench life, we want an actual player, not an archive of highlights.
Big Question. With plenty of depth and creativity, can Milan finally break the injury-offense spiral?
Why Watch. Half the team are X-factors: Brown, Gudurić, Nebo, Čančar. Any of them could pop.
7. "Anadolu Efes": Reboot for the 50th
Key Idea. The club wiped away two tough years and is building again around speed and space.
Head Coach. Igor Kokoškov.
What Changed. Shane Larkin & Jordan Loyd form a punchy backcourt; Isaïa Cordinier, Cole Swider, Georgios Papagiannis and even Kai Jones joined — a storyline on his own.
Under Pressure. Papagiannis — time to drop the “unmoored talent” label and become a steady five.
Big Question. How effective is Kokoškov as a club head coach right now? His best pages were a while ago and in other formats.
Why Watch. Post-EuroBasket form carries: if Larkin, Loyd and Hazer transfer that level to the club, Efes becomes scary again.
6. "Fenerbahce": Redrawing the Spine
Key Idea. The block that produced 40% of the team’s points is gone — Hayes-Davis, Gudurić and others. Sarunas Jasikevicius remains, but the game picture will change on the fly.
Head Coach. Sarunas Jasikevicius.
What Changed. Talen Horton-Tucker, Brandon Boston, Mikael Jantunen, Armando Bacot — big names, very different profiles.
Under Pressure. Tarik Biberovic — he must grow “per plan,” faster than is comfortable.
Big Question. How will role dynamics in the backcourt settle, and will the frontcourt have enough “physicality” without the old backbone?
Why Watch. Jasikevicius’s “rebuild at speed” is always a spectacle.
5. "Hapoel" (Tel Aviv): Much More Than a EuroCup Champion
Key Idea. Itoudis’s team — with a record deal for Vasilije Micić and a layered roster — aims not to participate, but to change hierarchies.
Head Coach. Dimitris Itoudis.
What Changed. Alongside Micić: Chris Jones, Elijah Bryant, Bruno Caboclo, Johnathan Motley and a deep big-man rotation; there’s creativity at every position.
Under Pressure. Caboclo — time to stabilize an image swinging from “best on the floor” to “cares only about money.”
Big Question. Can Itoudis restore that two-time EuroLeague MVP version of Micić?
Why Watch. The EuroLeague has missed Itoudis’s charisma — pressers, score roller-coasters and pliers-like clarity of basketball are back.
4. "Monaco": Talent Overload, Monte Carlo Edition
Key Idea. Kevarrius Hayes adds “verticality” perfectly; the Nikola Mirotić bet is a debated upgrade for a team one step from the title.
Head Coach. Vassilis Spanoulis.
What Changed. Nedović joined Hayes; Mike James and Alpha Diallo stayed; in the paint — Daniel Theis and Donatas Motiejūnas.
Under Pressure. Mirotić — the best player on nearly every team he’s on, but not the “finisher of the summit.”
Big Question. Health and psychology. James, Theis, Nedović — fine-tuning is mandatory and the locker room must hold strong personalities.
Why Watch. A “coaching depth” exam for Spanoulis. He has a EuroBasket bronze and a EuroLeague final, but there are more nuances now.
3. "Real Madrid": Scariolo and a New Discipline
Key Idea. Madrid switched from the math of chaos to Sergio Scariolo’s structure — a bet on coaching authority and refreshed roles.
Head Coach. Sergio Scariolo.
What Changed. Musa is gone; Theo Maledon, Chuma Okeke, Trey Lyles, Gabriele Procida and David Kramer arrived; the spine remains Facundo Campazzo and Walter Tavares.
Under Pressure. Maledon — some truly see a European star there. Time to confirm or deny.
Big Question. Can Scariolo quickly assemble chemistry without the old guard’s core?
Why Watch. The most intriguing “coach project” of the season: a national-team legend building a club under maximum pressure.
2. "Olympiacos": Athleticism Against Old Wounds
Key Idea. Piraeus went hard into “physicality” — from Frank Ntilikina to Donte Hall and Kostas Antetokounmpo — to cover last years’ weak spots.
Head Coach. Georgios Bartzokas.
What Changed. Fewer “small creators,” more strength and length.
Under Pressure. Keenan Evans and his health — too much depends on him.
Big Question. Who runs the offense when Evan Fournier can’t carry it alone? Options exist; certainty doesn’t.
Why Watch. Bartzokas built the best collective of recent years — one more misstep won’t be forgiven. The tournament’s nerves live here.
1. "Panathinaikos": A Dynasty Plan in Real Time
Key Idea. PAO has two starting fives and a coach who knows how to win “now.” On paper, this is Europe’s best team.
Head Coach. Ergin Ataman.
What Changed. TJ Shorts — a reactive ball-dominant point guard — replaces Lorenzo Brown, but he’ll have to share with Kendrick Nunn. In the paint, Mathias Lessort returns from injury with Richaun Holmes signed as insurance.
Under Pressure. Lessort — the emotional heart and glue piece. The team’s integrity depends on his recovery speed.
Big Question. The Shorts–Nunn backcourt chemistry. Adding two MVP candidates doesn’t always equal a net positive.
Why Watch. What can stop the favorite? Vassilis Toliopoulos sits deep on the bench, and EuroBasket breakout Alexandros Samodurov is the fourth power forward. The scale of resources is cosmic.
What It All Means for the Viewer
The EuroLeague mirrors its paradox again: in a conservative tournament, the boldest move forward. Long-horizon projects like Panathinaikos, Olympiacos and Real Madrid coexist with laboratories like Baskonia and Paris and grand premieres on the scale of Dubai. Sometimes coaches decide — Scariolo, Itoudis, Ataman; sometimes it’s one or two healthy knees; sometimes it’s the crossing of form and schedule. But every round brings a story: from Milan’s search for a farewell worthy of Messina to Spanoulis trying to win not in sneakers, but in a suit. Switch it on — the season will be long and loud.
