What Are The Best European Basketball Leagues?

Best European Basketball Leagues

European basketball leagues such as the EuroLeague, FIBA's Basketball Champions League, Liga ACB, and more are high-level and exciting alternatives to the NBA, producing top talents like Porzingis, Jokic, and Doncic. These leagues offer thrilling games, great player development, passionate fandoms, and a rich history, making them must-watch for basketball enthusiasts looking beyond the NBA.

The NBA is the most exciting basketball league to watch, but there are tons of other leagues spanning the globe. If you want another exciting and high-level basketball league outside the NBA, then try watching some basketball leagues in Europe. 

Let’s take a peek at some European basketball leagues, and what makes them so good for you to watch them. For sure, you will have a shocking reaction when we lay down some facts on how good players in these leagues are. It will blow your mind if you found out how talented Europeans are when it comes to playing basketball. Let’s do it!

Best European Basketball Leagues

1. EuroLeague

Euroleague is the top tier professional basketball club and was organized by Euroleague basketball since 2000. It is also known as Turkish Airlines Euroleague because of some sponsorship reasons. Euroleague is one of the most popular basketball leagues in the world, it is also one of the most-watched basketball leagues outside the NBA. Because many fans are still amazed at how teams in the Euroleague perform, it does not seem this league will be ending soon. 

Playing in the Euroleague is one of the best ways for an international basketball player to get into the NBA. The Euroleague produced many great talents that are currently playing in the NBA (Kristaps Porzingis, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and many more).

Euroleague has a great attendance rate, which proves that this basketball league is exciting to watch. In my opinion, this league is thrilling and one hundred percent sure one of the best basketball leagues outside the NBA.

2. FIBA’s Basketball Champions League

The Basketball Champions League is a professional basketball league for European clubs and was organized by FIBA. The tournament starts with a regular season of 32 teams and is divided into four groups. Four teams from each group with an astounding standing will advance in the playoffs. The champion team would receive a trophy and a cash prize.

The Basketball Champions League is one of the best sporting events in Europe, the great talents, smart coaches, and energetic fans help the BCL to be one of the best basketball leagues outside the NBA. Even though their platform is not similar to the NBA (BCL is a round-robin tournament) they are still considered as one of the most exciting basketball leagues to watch.

3. Liga ACB

The Liga ACB, also known as Liga Endesa, was founded last 1983 in Spain. They have 18 competing teams in total, this league is also using a round-robin format. 

Spain is one of the countries addicted to basketball, and the Liga ACB is the top league in the country. They also managed to provide great talents that made it to the NBA, the players are the Gasol brothers, Ricky Rubio, and more. 

The Liga ACB is one of the most attended basketball leagues in the entire world. Their average attendance is 6,000+, which proves that this league has a very large fandom. Why are they popular? Well, in my opinion, they are one of the best leagues outside the NBA that you should watch because of their great players, a great coach, and amazing teams!

4. Adriatic League

The Adriatic league was founded last 2001 and was operated by ABA Liga JTD. The Adriatic League is a regional men’s basketball league that consists of teams from different countries (Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, and Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Even though the Adriatic league is not a well-known league, this league has provided the NBA with a good set of players. NBA scouts are all around the region, that is why players opt to play here for more exposure and hoping to be recognized by some NBA scouts. 

Don’t expect too much from this league as they are focused more on individual player development. They help players to get ready for big leagues such as the NBA. 

5. LNB Pro A

The LNB Pro A, known as Jeep Elite today, was founded last 1921 and was one of the oldest basketball leagues alive today. Jeep Elite is a top-tier men’s basketball league in France that has been providing entertaining basketball games ever since, giving it plenty of history. 

France is one of the countries that produced top-tier NBA players such as Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, and more. This league helps mold many aspiring French players to get into the NBA. 

This league has lived ever since and this proves that this league is one of the best basketball leagues outside the NBA. 

6. Basketball Super League

Basketball Super League is the top men’s professional basketball division of the Turkish basketball league system. It consists of 15 teams with great coaches and many players here have a dream to play in the NBA. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Shane Larking are the players produced by Basketball Super League. 

American basketball players that want to play basketball overseas are welcome in this league. Many NBA scouts keep their eyes on this league to find the next great international player.

7. Lega Basket Serie A

The Lega Basket Serie A is the top basketball league established in Italy and is considered one of the best basketball leagues in Europe. The teams from this league have won the Euroleague championship many times, and this proves that Italy’s basketball teams are outstanding. 

This league also provides the NBA many good sets of talented players. Because of their record in Euroleague and the numbers of players they helped to make it to the NBA, there is no doubt that this league has many high-level coaches and staff running this league.

8. The Basketball Bundesliga

Germany is known for being a dictator, they are most known for starting two world wars, but for sure basketball didn’t jump into your mind. The Basketball Bundesliga is one of the best leagues outside the NBA. This league has many great coaches and staff that helped each other to keep this league running. 

This league was founded a long time ago that proves that this league is one of the best and organized basketball leagues in the world. They can also produce talented basketball players that can compete in the NBA, players like Dennis Schroeder is one of their products. 

9. The Greek Basket League

The Greek Basket League was founded last 1927 and is also considered as one of the oldest basketball leagues in the world. The league features 14 teams that play 26 games in a season that lasts nine months. Panathinaikos and Olympiacos are the two clubs that have dominated the league since the 1990s. 

Despite only a few teams being the alpha teams in this league, the teams in this league still play good basketball. Greece aims to provide the NBA with some talented players. The Antetokounmpo brothers are the players produced by Greece. 

10. Israeli Basketball Premier League

Israeli Basketball Premier League is one of the best international basketball leagues in the world. They have a strong relationship with the NBA and during the 80s and 90s, the NBA played exhibitions with some Israeli basketball players. 

Many NBA players have come through this league, including Nate Robinson, Omri Casspi, Carlos Arroyo, and many more. Basketball talent overflows the league, every team has many good coaches and many good players that have the potential to make it to the NBA. With great assets each team has, there is no doubt that this league is competitive. 

Final Verdict

The NBA is indeed an exciting basketball league to watch, but I suggest you try to watch some of these basketball leagues. I am sure you will enjoy it! Do not underestimate other basketball leagues just because they are outside the USA, if you love basketball, then you shouldn’t have any league biases.

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