By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
Many consider last season to be the most exciting in EuroLeague history. Can it get any better? The answer should be: Why not?
The competition seems stronger than ever, all teams have improved, and any prediction is bound to fall down the drain sooner rather than later.
And since the start of the year is just coming today, it’s time for the first version of this season’s Power Rankings from Eurohoops.
We evaluated the 18 teams on a scale of 1 to 10 in five different areas that can reveal the dynamics of each at the start of the year.
THE CRITERIA
Roster quality: The talent of all players on each team’s roster and the completeness in all positions are evaluated.
Chemistry: Big and flashy names don’t always guarantee a good team. Although it is very early and the teams are still trying to build a core, the chemistry that the players may already have with each other and how familiar they are with their coach is very important.
Status: The name and legacy of each club do not play basketball, but in crucial games sometimes a “heavy” jersey can decide the result.
Transfer moves: In this specific category, the summer moves in the transfer market are evaluated and the weakening or strengthening of a team is assessed.
Season projection: Our assessment of each team’s goals. The teams that are the big favorites to be in the Final Four (May 24 to 26 at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin) and to win the trophy get a 9. The teams that aim to be in the final phase and have enough chances to succeed get an 8. Those who have as their main goal the direct qualification to the playoffs (positions 1-6) must settle for a 7, and 6 goes to those who are expected to get the qualification to the playoffs at least through the newly established play-in tournament (positions 7-10). The total underdogs must settle for 5s.
The assessment of the course and dynamics of each team is as it has been formed before the official games even begin and is expected to vary during the year.
#18 ALBA BERLIN
Roster quality: 6
Chemistry: 7
Status: 5
Transfers: 6
Season projection: 5
Total: 29
No one expects ALBA to be present at the Final Four that will be hosted again in Berlin, but at least we hope for them to stop circling the last places in the rankings (15th in 2021, 10th out of 15 teams in 2022, 16th in 2023). Coach Israel González has to manage again a mission impossible without the contribution of do-it-all players like Maodo Lo and, above all, Luke Sikma.
#17 LDLC ASVEL VILLEURBANNE
Roster quality: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 5
Transfers: 7
Season projection: 5
Total: 31
One thing is certain for Villeurbanne: they can’t do worse after finishing 18th in the standings last year. The return to France of players such as Paris Lee, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Edwin Jackson (in his third tour of duty with the team) will help. And while players come and go, TJ Parker remains on the bench as an assistant (2013-18, 2018-20) or head coach (2018, 2020-present).
#16 VALENCIA BASKET
Roster quality: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfers: 7
Season projection: 5
Total: 32
EuroCup Champion Gran Canaria’s decision to not participate in the competition kept Valencia in the EuroLeague. This year, their roster has really changed from last season, when they finished in 13th place. That includes the departure of local icon Bojan Dublijevic. The acquisition of Brandon Davis was Valencia’s most high-profile move of the offseason, while Chris Jones had signed a contract extension since March.
#13 BASKONIA VITORIA-GASTEIZ
Roster quality: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfers: 7
Season projection: 6
Total: 33
Although they narrowly missed qualifying for the playoffs ending up in ninth place, Baskonia almost stole the show last year. Can they repeat the same season with a better ending? The “goodbye” of players like Darius Thompson and Rokas Giedraitis raises doubts, which nonetheless could be erased by the team’s always-excellent development program.
#13 VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA
Roster quality: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfers: 7
Season projection: 6
Total: 33
The moves in the offseason were many, coming and going, however the sudden removal of Sergio Scariolo from coaching duties and his replacement with Luca Banchi just before the start of the season turned heads everywhere. The latter will work by default with the roster he inherited, but he did more than well in his first days on the bench, winning the Italian Supercoppa.
#13 FC BAYERN MUNICH
Roster quality: 7
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfers: 7
Season projection: 6
Total: 33
If there is an interesting project, it is that of Bayern Munich. The presence of Pablo Lasso in his return to the bench after a sabbatical year explains why. The roster underwent an almost complete makeover with the latest change being the addition of Serge Ibaka. Still, they have a lot of ground to cover.
#12 ZALGIRIS KAUNAS
Roster quality: 7
Chemistry: 8
Status: 7
Transfers: 7
Season projection: 6
Total: 35
Zalgiris Kaunas was the pleasant surprise last year, finishing seventh in the standings when nobody expected them to avoid the bottom of the league at the start of the season. Were the initial predictions wrong or did Zalgiris overachieve? It remains to be seen for the foreseeable future. Major roster changes have been kept to a minimum, although they did have to say goodbye to Ignas Brazdeikis with the worst possible preseason timing for them.
#11 CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET BELGRADE
Roster quality: 8
Chemistry: 7
Status: 6
Transfers: 8
Season projection: 7
Total: 36
“I think we have the best team in Red Star history,” Nemanja Nedovic said as his team was boosted by the arrivals of Milos Teodosic, Shabazz Napier, Rokas Giedraitis, Adam Hanga and Mike Tobey, among others. Head coach Dusko Ivanovic never liked words, so it’s time for action.
#9 PANATHINAIKOS ATHENS
Roster quality: 8
Chemistry: 6
Status: 7
Transfers: 9
Season projection: 7
Total: 37
Eleven years away from the Final Four and the downward spiral from 2020 until last year (16th place in 2021, 13th out of 15 teams in 2022 and 17th in 2023) is too much for Panathinaikos. Enter recent two-time EuroLeague champion head coach Ergin Ataman and a total of 11 new players, including names like Kostas Sloukas and Juancho Hernangomez. But the clock is ticking, and this team needs to be ready sooner than later…
#9 FC BARCELONA
Roster quality: 8
Chemistry: 7
Status: 7
Transfers: 8
Season projection: 7
Total: 37
If you like puzzles Barcelona have a good one for you after the departures of Sarunas Jasikevicius and Nikola Mirotic. If replacing a EuroLeague MVP with a EuroBasket MVP in Willy Hernangomez, as well as adding Jabari Parker, created some optimism, a big question mark still hangs over them.
#6 FENERBAHCE BEKO ISTANBUL
Roster quality: 8
Chemistry: 8
Status: 7
Transfers: 8
Season projection: 7
Total: 38
Its last participation in the Final Four (fourth place in 2019) is becoming a distant memory for Fenerbahce. Head coach Dimitris Itoudis has the expertise to make it happen again. Players like Yam Mandar and Giorgos Papagiannis were added to correct any imperfections and if things click, watch out!
#6 PARTIZAN MOZZARTBET BELGRADE
Roster quality: 8
Chemistry: 8
Status: 7
Transfers: 8
Season projection: 7
Total: 38
Four departures from one team is considered a small number in professional basketball these days unless it involves players like Dante Exum, Yam Madar, Ioannis Papapetrou and especially Mathias Lessort from Partizan. At least Kevin Punter stayed at the buzzer and the presence of “King” Zeljko Obradovic on the bench guarantees the competitive profile aiming to the top.
#6 MACCABI TEL AVIV
Roster quality: 8
Chemistry: 8
Status: 7
Transfers: 8
Season projection: 7
Total: 38
With a run ‘n’ gun recipe and especially the big names that came within one victory of the team’s first Final Four since 2014 still in place, Maccabi Tel Aviv begins another promising season full of emotions. If not now for the company of Lorenzo Brown and Wade Baldwin, when?