EuroLeague 2263
The weight of expectation
With Prometey the last Ukrainian team left in a pan-European competition in any sport this season, Emmet Ryan on the unlikely charge of the side and the hopes they carry for a people they remain physically distant from The war put sport on pause for Ukraine along with most of life but it was only […]
Malaga’s hosting win is the secondary story in BCL F4 drama
Unicaja Malaga fans will get to watch their team challenge for the Basketball Champions League title in their own arena but the decision is shrouded in drama as Hapoel Jerusalem missed out on hosting I am often wrong and rarely informed. I said as much last night as the expectations over where the Basketball Champions […]
Ante Tomic quietly forcing his way back into our minds
In the autumn of his career, the Croatian big man is reminding everyone of how he is still the silent threat we used to be awed by and that makes Badalona a threat through the rest of Eurocup following victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv He was never the modern big man. In all of his […]
Salary caps and Europe are an odd mix
With France announcing it was bringing in some form of salary cap for LNB from next season, Emmet Ryan on why such a format is a challenge on the continent in near any form France has announced it is bringing in a salary cap, understandably drawing the odd comparison to the NBA, but France is […]
The load management debate really is stupid
Lots of grey haired or balding old-timers or never weres complain about players skipping games for load management. As a grey haired never was who has a slight bald spot, Emmet Ryan feels perfectly suited to explain why the debate isn’t just tired, it’s stupid We all love a good argument in sports. No question. […]
A lament for the Efes era of cool
Some legends are told Some turn to dust or to gold But you will remember me Remember me for centuries We can rarely tell when an era begins but sometimes you can really feel the sense of finality to one. When Fenerbahce went all out on Thursday night to beat Anadolu Efes, it was the […]
Musa shows the renaissance is real
Dzanan Musa’s personal rebuild has been remarkable to watch as the former Brooklyn Nets man has found his happy place and is ready for another shot in the NBA, writes Emmet Ryan It was only one game. In truth, it was only one overtime period, but it was indicative of how Dzanan Musa has refined […]
What to expect from Glickman at Euroleague? His own words are a good indication
A talk given by Marshall Glickman, the acting CEO of Euroleague, in Athens last April points to the real decisions facing not only the competition but sports as a whole. Emmet Ryan examines the most interesting comments from Glickman and what they might mean for Euroleague going forward The end of the Jordi Bertomeu era […]
The Euroleague 2022-23 season mega preview
Euroleague is under new management, Efes are aiming for a threepeat, and there’s a rather different look to the line-up. It’s definitely going to be a unique season in Euroleague if nothing else, writes Emmet Ryan As ever with the Euroleague off-season there was plenty of drama off the court but we’ve had months to […]
Opening dates of every basketball league in Europe 2022/23
The 2022/2023 season is nearly here so it’s time to check out when every men’s national and pan-European basketball league across the continent, or at least as many as we can track, begins. This list will be updated as more start dates become available.. For now it’s the best we can make of it. If […]
There may somehow only be winners in the Wembanyama move
At worst there’s one kind of loser but Victor Wembanyama opting to sign with Metropolitans 92 might be best for everyone interested in his future, not least himself Winners and losers columns are a tried and test format. This one, it’s a little different. It’s a winners and one, maybe, kinda, loser who probably is […]
Still life in Kaunas
Emmet Ryan tried to watch the game between Zalgiris Kaunas and FC Barcelona over a choppy internet connection but sometimes the effort in acknowledging the moment is enough It’s 8.20pm somewhere around Co. Tipperary. The train is bright but it’s too dark outside to have any idea where I actually am on my way to […]