Why Euroleague basketball is worth your time
Growing up in Kaunas, Lithuania, I was always surrounded by basketball. As a basketball player myself, I didn’t need much for me to fall in love with the sport. In my home country, basketball takes a big part in people’s daily lives, to the point where the sport is called our second religion. With my hometown team Žalgiris participating in the Euroleague and an increasing access to the NBA, I watched many games of both championships, which are considerably different but offer great material for basketball fans.
Although, there are multiple reasons why Euroleague basketball struggles to keep up with the NBA, but the facts that it is the second-best league in the world and offers different type of basketball are worth mentioning. However, you might ask — how exactly Euroleague basketball is different from the NBA? Well, if you had the curiosity to ask that, you might want to check some great resources out to get a sense. Nevertheless, in case you are wondering if it is worth your time, the answer is “YES”, but now, let me explain myself.
If you are a basketball fan, you have probably heard that European basketball is much different from what it’s like in the United States, and that’s very true. David Blatt, a professional basketball coach who got to coach teams in both leagues, explained that the differences between the two are huge: “I would not say that one game is better than another,” he said, “but I do very much recognize and understand <…> the differences in how the game is played because it is played very differently, under different circumstances, conditions, scheduling, players, rules…” In my opinion, every aspect in Europe that differs from the NBA offers a different kind of feel, therefore making Euroleague a unique basketball league.
The comparison starts with officiating and measurements, as the game rules, court size, and length of the game are slightly different in Europe. Don’t worry though, it is still the same game, but if you are interested in knowing the exact differences, here is the website for you: https://www.agonasport.com/agonasport-allnews/european-basketball-vs-american-basketballis-there-a-difference
Due to recent events, we saw some differences in scheduling which basketball lovers can only be grateful for. NBA season is coming to an end as the league is found out who’s is going to compete in the Championship Finals, thus creating a perfect opportunity for the sport enthusiasts to dive into European basketball. The Euroleague season starts October 1st and there is no better timing to learn about it as to watch the fresh start of it alongside the NBA finals.
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In terms of the settings, the big difference between both leagues is the number of games played. NBA is famous for its fast pace as teams usually play three or four games a week which adds to up to a total of 82. Whereas the Euroleague teams play two rounds against each team totaling 34 games in the regular season. If you are interested in what it has to do with the quality of the games, here’s the simple answer — every Euroleague game is played like it is finals due to the risk of fluctuation in a standings table in case of a loss. The approach to the regular season games in Euroleague is much different and offers fans a great intensity and competition. Hence, you don’t need to wait for the playoffs to start to finally enjoy a great quality basketball.
While players compete in the court, coaches have a huge impact on how teams perform as well. Unlike the NBA, where teams are stacked with endless talent and skills, having strategies and tactics are a key component in European basketball. Coaches have been using a lot of playsets for years and some of them are now being used by the best American coaches, such as Gregg Popovich, a five-time NBA champion. According to the ESPN, “A day after beating Panathinaikos in an exhibition game <…>, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spent the morning studying video tape of the Greek team and the system installed by its coach, Zelimir Obradovic.” Yet, he is not the only one who “borrows” plays from others as more NBA coaches appreciate the thoroughness of European style and start to incorporate parts of it to their systems.
As someone who saw my first live NBA game only two years ago, the environment in the NBA arenas was something I was most interested to see and compare simply because it’s hard to get a full feeling while watching games on TV. After experiencing games in both championships, I can tell there is a huge difference between the two. NBA games are more concerned about keeping fans entertained so it offers them various games, contests, and competitions during the timeouts and the half-time. While some of these elements can be found in Euroleague as well, fans watch games mainly to cheer for their team, and by “cheer” I mean being crazy, vocal, and passionate. That said, fans can create an environment that you will remember your whole life. To get a feel of it, here is a video that showcases the madness that is often created in European basketball fans:
As a follower of both leagues, I wouldn’t choose one over another. Yet, I can notice differences and agree that in terms of skill and talent, the NBA is unbeatable and the record of exhibitions games between Euroleague and NBA teams can prove the point. Wikipedia states that since 2013, “NBA teams have an overall record of 75–16 against EuroLeague teams.” However, basketball is more than that, and fans of either league can take something valuable from each other whether it is the atmosphere or strategic plays on the court.
The NBA is known everywhere around the world while Euroleague receives an interest mainly from Europeans. I believe Euroleague should get more attention as it is much different from what the NBA can offer. That being said, October is the best time to start getting familiar, as the season starts. If you're a basketball lover and want to expand your horizon, the least I can promise is that you won’t regret watching a Euroleague game. So… go ahead and take a look at the schedule of the first round starting on October 1st:
For more Euroleague resources, check out my previous post.
