EuroBasket is in the books. Time to look ahead to all the national and international leagues in Europe. Here’s when the action starts in all of them. Well, in all of them that have announced their schedules.
Euroleague – 1 October/16 October
The qualifiers for the one remaining slot begin on 1 October but the regular season doesn’t start for another two weeks. Olympiacos begin their quest for a three-peat at home to Unicaja Malaga.
Eurocup – 15 October
Europe’s secondary competition begins its regular season the night before Euroleague.
Eurochallenge – 5 October
Play in Europe’s tertiary competition starts just a couple of weeks after EuroBasket ends. Krasnie Krilya won the crown last season and are back in Eurochallenge this year.
Adriatic League – 4 October
KK Krka have moved up from Liga Telemach after four straight titles. Reigning champions Partizan begin play at home to KK Igokea.
VTB League – 5 October
After a scattered start to the regular season, reigning champions CSKA Moscow open their campaign at home to VEF Riga.
Balkan League – 14 October
Hapoel Gilboa Galil took the title last season and begin their title defence with a road game at KK Teodo Tivat.
Baltic League – 8 October
Reigning champions Ventspils open play against Barsy Atyrau.
Austria Bundesliga – 5 October
Defending champions BC Vienna open play at home to UBSC Graz.
Belarus Premier League – 18 October
Reigning champions BC Tsmoki-Minsk will enter play in the second phase.
Belgium Ligue Ethias – 4 October
BC Oostende, who took the title last year with a 6-1 run in the playoffs, start play at home to Mons Hainaut. Their season doesn’t start until 9 October due to participation in the Euroleague qualifiers.
Bosnia Bosnian League – TBD
Reigning champions KK Igokea will play in the ABA before re-joining at the playoff stage.
Britain British Basketball League – 27 September
Three games take place on opening night with the London Lions playing their first competitive game in their new home, the Copper Box, against Manchester Giants. Leicester Riders, last season’s champions begin their season the following night against Birmingham Knights.
Bulgaria NBL – 19 October
Reigning champions Lukoil Academic begin their campaign at Cherno More Port Varna.
Croatia A1 – TBD
KK Zibona, last year’s winners, will enter play after the regular season. When will the regular season start? WorldofBasketball.org reports a decision will be made on Wednesday.
Czech Republic NBL – 6 October
CEZ Basketball Nymburk begin their quest for a 10th successive title on the road at Usti Nad Labem.
Denmark Basketligaen – 24 September
The season gets under way with the clash of SISU and Horsholm 79ers. Bakken Bears begin their title defence two days later against Horsens IC.
Estonia KML – 27 September
BC Kalev/Cramo open their defence of the title against Rakvere Tarvas on the season’s opening night.
Finland Korisliiga – 4 October
Opening night features three games while Nilan Bisons begin their quest for a three-peat on 5 October against KTP-Basket.
France LNB A – 4 October
Nanterre were the surprise package of last year’s playoffs. They begin their challenge for 2013-14 at Nancy on 5 October.
Germany Bundesliga – 2 October
Brose Baskets have won the Bundesliga every year since I visited Bamberg in 2010. Their beer’s pretty good too. They host the first game of the season against Mitteldeutscher.
Greece A1 – 11 October
Euroleague champions Olympiacos host Greek champions Panathinaikos on opening night but the game will take place behind closed doors.
Hungary Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A – 4 October
Alba Fehérvár won the title last year and open against Sopron KC.
Ireland Premier League – 5 October
UL Eagles are the reigning champions and they start play in the rebranded Premier League away to Moycullen.
Israel Ligat HaAl – 13 October
Maccabi Haifa took the title last season at Elitzur Netanya. Euroleague power Maccabi Tel-Aviv begin their quest to regain the title at Hapoel Holon.
Italy Lega A – 13 October
Montepaschi Siena have won seven titles in a row. The quest for their eighth straight starts against Cremona.
Latvia LBL – 1 October
VEF Riga, the reigning champions, join the competition after the opening phase.
Lithuania LKL – 28 September
Zalgiris Kaunas beat Lietuvos Rytas in last year’s finals. The champions will look to succeed with a smaller budget this season.
Montenegro Opportunity League – TBD
Buducnost have won every title since the Opportunity League began in 2006-07, no official fixture list has been announced yet.
Netherlands Dutch Basketball League – 5 October
Leiden won the title with a sweep of Leeuwarden last year. They play Flames Groningen on opening night.
Norway BLNO – 4 October
Tromso Storm won the final last year. They travel to Sverresborg on opening night.
Poland Ekstraliga – 12 October
After five straight titles for Asseco Prokom, Stelmet Zielena Gora took the crown last year. They start play two days after opening night at Kotwica Kolobrzeg.
Portugal LPB – 26 September
Benfica claimed their 24th title last season. They are going for a three-peat this time around and start at Galitos Barreiro Tley.
Romania Divisia A – TBD
CSU Ploiesti are the reigning champions, we’re still waiting for the fixtures for 2013-14 to come out.
Russia PBL – TBD
Again we’re waiting to find out when the season starts and when CSKA Moscow will begin the defence of their title.
Serbia Kosarska Liga – 4 October
The top three teams in Serbia play in the Adriatic League and won’t join play until the Super League stage. KK Vojvodina won the regular season last year and begin play against KK Sloboda Uzice.
Slovakia Extraliga – TBD
Inter Bratislava won the title last year and yup, we’re still waiting for the new season’s schedule.
Slovenia Liga Telemach – 18 October
Krka beat Union Olimpja for their fourth straight title last year. Both teams will join the competition after the first phase.
Spain ACB – 11 October
Real Madrid begin the defence of their title in Liga Endesa at Valladolid.
Sweden Ligan – 2 October
Södertälje Kings won Ligan last season and open at home to Sundsvall on 5 October.
Switzerland LNBA – 5 October
Geneve Lions edged Lugano Tigers 3-2 in the finals last season. They start play at home to Starwings Basel.
Turkey TBL – TBD
Galatasaray Medical Park won the title in 2012-13, we’re still waiting on an official start date.
Ukraine Superleague – TBD
BC Budivelnyk are the reigning champions and we’re waiting to find out when they will start the defence of their title.
As you can see this list is incomplete. Help us fill in the gaps.
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