By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The usual question in recent years is which continental competition can be considered second best to the EuroLeague. The answer is not always clear, especially considering the fact that for example, the fourth team in the Spanish League Standings is for sure stronger than the champions of a less prominent basketball country.
However, without the Russian teams playing this season and with both the EuroCup and the Basketball Champions League having teams from more or less the same countries, for the first time, there’s a case for the Basketball Champions League beating the EuroCup in prestige and interest, at least on points.
The average position in the standings of the teams which are competing in the Basketball Champions League regular season is 4,53 while in the EuroCup the average position is 5.85. The BCL is hosting the champions of Israel (Hapoel Holon), Lithuania (Rytas Vilnius), Belgium (Oostend), the Czech Republic (Nymburk), Hungary (Kormend), and Latvia (VEF Riga).
EuroCup also hosts its share of local champions including Poland (Slask Wroclaw), Roumania (Cluj), and Ukraine even if the league was never completed (Prometey).
Of course, if you dissect the two competitions by local criteria things get complicated. EuroCup has the best Spanish team of last season outside the EuroLeague in Joventut Badalona (3rd in Liga Endesa), in the Adriatic Region with Buducnost (3rd in ABA) and the same applies in Greece with the inclusion of Promitheas (4th in HEBA).
On the other hand, the Basketball Champions League has the upper hand in Italy with Dinamo Sassari (4th in Legabasket), in France with Dijon (3rd in ProA), in Turkey with Galatasaray (3rd in BSL), and also in Germany with Bonn (3rd in BBL).
You can also make a case that this difference in average standings is minimal and doesn’t mean much in the big picture, which is also a solid take.
However, for the first time in their history, BCL compared to EuroCup has more clubs with a big fan base that can be even considered future EuroLeague material. There’s not a bigger example than Galatasaray for this matter, but you can add to this list AEK, despite their financial issues, PAOK, and Hapoel Jerusalem.
On the other hand, no matter which team wins the EuroCup trophy and advances to the EuroLeague next season, it’s hard to imagine them being really competitive at the top level.
And then, there’s a EuroLeague legend who is making his first coaching steps in the BCL. Every competition needs an attraction and Vassilis Spanoulis coaching Peristeri and aiming for the Final Four is a story that will be followed all around Europe next season.
The presence of Spanoulis in the Basketball Champions League will undeniably create a buzz, similar to Zeljko Obradovic and Sergio Scariolo’s return last season to the EuroCup.
And that’s why this is a BCL season that can’t be missed by the average basketball fan.