The EuroLeague is one of the world’s top-tier men’s professional basketball teams. It brings together the continent’s elite basketball clubs in a thrilling competition that showcases top-tier talent and intense rivalries. The competition officially kicked off in 1958, and there have been 68 seasons since then. The current version of the tournament, created in the 2000/01 season, is, however, only 25 years old this season. This year’s edition kicked off on October 3 and will conclude with the Final Four on May 25, 2025.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the 2024/25 EuroLeague, from the competing teams and the format to rule changes and highlights from the matches played so far.
Competing Teams and Format
This year, 18 teams from nine different countries will battle it out for supremacy, including the much-anticipated debut of Paris Basketball. Below’s the list of all the 18 teams competing in the league this year:
- Panathinaikos AKTOR
- Monaco
- Fenerbahçe Beko
- Crvena zvezda Meridianbet
- Barcelona
- Anadolu Efes
- Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv
- Žalgiris
- Real Madrid
- Baskonia
- LDLC ASVEL
- Olympiacos
- Bayern Munich
- EA7 Emporio Armani Milan
- Paris Basketball
- Virtus Segafredo Bologna
- Partizan Mozzart Bet
- ALBA Berlin
The EuroLeague starts with the 18 teams competing in a group stage following a double round-robin format. Each team will play 34 games, 17 at home and 17 away. Once these 34 rounds are completed, only the top 10 teams will move on to the postseason. The top six teams from the regular season automatically advance to the playoffs, while the teams finishing in 7th to 10th place will fight it out in a play-in round for the last two playoff spots. Consequently, the teams that finish between 11th and 18th will be eliminated, and their journey in the tournament will end.
Rule Changes
For the most part, the 2024/25 EuroLeague sticks to its existing format and rules. However, there have been some notable rule updates to enhance fairness for teams and clarity for fans. Here’s a quick rundown of the changes:
Backcourt Violations and Instant Replay System (IRS)
- New Reviewable Calls: Backcourt violations are now part of the Instant Replay System. Referees can review any backcourt violation called against the team in possession during the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.
- Coaches’ Challenges: Coaches can challenge backcourt violation calls anytime during the game.
Jump Ball Violations
- Frontcourt Violation: If a jump ball violation happens in the opponent’s frontcourt, the ball will now be inbounded from the backcourt, with 24 seconds on the shot clock.
- Backcourt Violation: If the violation occurs in the backcourt, the ball will be inbounded in the frontcourt, but there will be only 14 seconds left on the shot clock.
Defensive Semicircle Adjustments
The criteria for determining whether a defensive player is inside or outside the defensive semicircle have also been updated. Now, if any part of a defensive player’s foot is above the semicircle line, they’re considered outside the semicircle. The previous rule counted them as inside in the same situation.
Season So Far
With just two matches played so far, it is too early to know the best-suited team to take the league title this season. However, this doesn’t mean sportsbooks don’t already have odds set up for all the teams involved. You can click here to see the odds for the EuroLeague outright winner betting market.
So far, the season has been nothing short of thrilling, with several standout performances and a competitive race at the top. Panathinaikos Aktor has made a strong statement, securing two convincing wins, including a decisive 94-79 victory over FC Bayern München. They currently sit at the top of the standings with a perfect 2-0 record and boast an impressive +25 point differential, the best in the league.
Close on their heels, Monaco has also started strong, remaining unbeaten after wins against Olimpia Milano and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. Their solid defense has contributed to a healthy +19 score difference. Fenerbahçe Beko is also making a strong case for its championship aspirations, with victories over Olympiacos and Anadolu Efes helping them rack up a +16 score difference.
Crvena Zvezda also continues to prove they are a force to be reckoned with, holding a 2-0 record with wins over Paris and Baskonia. However, their +10 score difference suggests they may need to up their scoring to keep pace with the other top contenders.
In the mid-table, teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Žalgiris Kaunas are off to a mixed start, each sitting at 1-1. Real Madrid has showcased impressive offensive firepower, scoring 182 points in their two games. However, they’ll need to tighten up defensively to avoid more losses.
At the other end of the spectrum, teams like Alba Berlin, Bologna, and KK Partizan struggle to find their footing and are still looking for their first win. Alba Berlin has had a particularly tough time, ending up with a -25 score difference after losing its first two games against Panathinaikos and Barcelona.
Overall, it is still early into the season, and fans will naturally hope to see their teams hit their stride as the week progresses. With plenty of games still to be played, there’s ample opportunity for squads to build momentum, overcome shaky starts, or continue their strong form.
Conclusion
As the 2024/25 EuroLeague season unfolds, basketball fans are in for another exciting display of skill, strategy, and top-tier competition. With plenty of action still to come, the season promises intense matchups and unexpected twists, and we are here for it.
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