The question that will define season for every EuroLeague team

EuroLeague teams have entered the final phase of preparations for the next ten months of non-stop action, and every single one faces a question that will define their season – whether it ends up being a success or not.

On day one, all 20 EuroLeague teams will share the same ambition – to become champions at the end of the year. However, as the season progresses, those ambitions will shift, driven directly by how successfully each team answers the defining question that lies ahead.

Anadolu Efes 

Question: How much gas is left in Mike James’ tank?

Asvel 

Question: Are their minds even on the EuroLeague?

Asvel went through massive turbulence this past summer. Stars were brought in, a long-term future in the EuroLeague was announced, and it finally seemed like everything made sense. Of course, that didn’t last long. Financial difficulties forced them to part ways with their marquee signings just as quickly.

Reports also emerged that brothers Joey and Jesse Buss might purchase the team at some point, further intensifying questions about their loyalty to the EuroLeague, how focused they actually are on this competition, and what their ambitions even are for the upcoming period.

Barcelona

Question: Can anyone step up and be the second violin to Kevin Punter?

Kevin Punter is one of the few constants from past seasons when it comes to Barcelona. A roster has been assembled that, on paper, does not look like anything spectacular. We know absolutely what to expect from Punter, but the real question is whether Barcelona even has a player capable of being the second option on a winning team.

A large number of new players have been brought in, and their integration into Aleksander Sekulic’s system will be of crucial importance when the season reaches its crunch time. If someone else joins Punter, Barcelona has reason to be hopeful. On the other hand, if that fails to happen, the chances of achieving real success are slim.

Baskonia

Question: How much time must pass before Stefan Joksimovic is given the keys to the team?

Bayern

Question: Will they gain true shape and a clear identity under new head coach?

Bayern has languished in mediocrity over the past period, leading them to make a coaching change by appointing former player Anton Gavel, following his major successes with Ulm and Bamberg. He holds the key to steering this team forward and escaping that stagnant middle tier.

Gavel has already proven twice that he can turn around the fortunes of struggling, middle-of-the-pack teams. Now he inherits a more talented roster boasting proven EuroLeague talents like Andreas Obst and Duane Washington, along with newcomers like Austin Wiley. However, he also faces far greater responsibility and fiercer competition in pursuit of good results. Ultimately, laying solid foundations and enduring the inevitable growing pains during the process might be what matters most this season.

Besiktas

Question: Will they know how to turn the underdog role to their advantage?

Besiktas has experienced a meteoric rise over the past few seasons. Coincidentally, this coincided with the arrival of Dusan Alimpijevic in Istanbul. Going from the bottom of the Turkish Super League to returning to the EuroLeague is an achievement that very few can boast about. At the same time, they are regular participants in the finals of the competitions they play in.

Throughout his career, the underdog role has suited Alimpijevic much better, and he regularly turns it to his advantage. However, he is now at the highest level, and it will be of crucial importance whether he manages to translate that proven formula to the top tier of European basketball. If he succeeds, Besiktas could even sneak into the fight for the play-in, even though their current roster might not compare in talent to some other teams.

Crvena Zvezda

Question: Who is the team’s go-to star?

Crvena Zvezda enters the new season with Ibon Navarro at the helm, and the Spaniard faces a formidable task. Beyond the heavy pressure from day one, he must quickly implement his system while also determining who will take the lead role.

Whether that is Jordan Nwora, Jared Butler, or someone else is a question that needs an immediate answer so team roles can fall into place and everyone understands what is expected of them. The longer this decision is delayed and left hanging, the larger the problem will become. At a certain point, you simply have to make the call, no matter how it turns out.

Dubai

Question: Is an overly deep roster doomed to implode?

Dubai managed to entice an even greater number of players this offseason, alongside a new head coach, Xavi Pascual. It is well known that Pascual requested a deep squad from his new club, but it is entirely valid to ask whether they went overboard with the sheer volume of players.

The UAE team has 18 players on its roster while competing in only two competitions. Yes, this allows Pascual to rotate heavily between the EuroLeague and the ABA League without overworking his players – something many teams will struggle with due to the relentless schedule. However, there comes a point where someone will reach their limit and spark trouble over a lack of playing time. How the team responds to that scenario, which seems almost inevitable, will be vital to their ambitions – ambitions that appear to be set at the very highest level.

Fenerbahce

Question: Which of the stars will have to sacrifice the most?

Fenerbahce will boast even more talent on its roster this season, but Sarunas Jasikevicius‘ key role – beyond the tactical and technical aspects – will be keeping every player happy with their role. Fenerbahce was highly successful even without them, making it crucial to clearly communicate expectations to the new additions.

Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn in particular must accept having fewer touches per game. Given that both are well into their thirties, that might not be such a tough pill to swallow. If everything clicks, Fenerbahce will stand as one of the top contenders for the EuroLeague title. Conversely, there is always a risk that the squad simply fails to mesh, which could prove disastrous for their ambitions.

Hapoel Tel Aviv

Question: Will they have the patience if things go sideways?

Hapoel Tel Aviv is entering just its second EuroLeague season, yet its ambitions remain sky-high. They got off to a flying start last year, holding down top spot for much of the campaign. But when the inevitable slump hit – as it does for every team sooner or later – management was reportedly ready to pull the trigger and fire Dimitris Itoudis.

The Greek coach is one of the best of the last 15 years, and he undoubtedly needs time to build the kind of seamless operational rhythm he once established at CSKA. The real question is whether Hapoel Tel Aviv will display enough patience to ride out the rough patches, or if they will replace him at the first sign of trouble.

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Question: Is a stellar frontcourt enough to guarantee success?

Maccabi Tel Aviv made very few changes between seasons, which might be the best move they could have made. That continuity nearly paid dividends last year when they stuck with Oded Kattash – largely due to player backing – and this summer they decided to double down on that stability. The biggest shakeup came at the center position, where Daniel Theis and Armando Bacot arrived to replace Marcio Santos and Zach Hankins.

Pairing them alongside Roman Sorkin, Jaylen Hoard, and Bonzie Colson gives Maccabi an elite frontcourt – unquestionably one of the best in the EuroLeague. However, despite solid pieces like Iffe Lundberg, Jimmy Clark, and Keaton Wallace, the backcourt does not quite match that elite billing. That makes it crucial for the big men to take another leap forward and serve as the main catalysts for success.

Milano

Question: Can complementary stars step up as lead dogs?

Milano’s marquee summer additions are Alec Peters and Moses Wright. Add Marko Guduric, who arrived last year, and a common thread emerges for all three: complementary stars who have finally been handed the keys to their own team. Peters served as a luxury backup to Sasha Vezenkov at Olympiacos, Guduric was a staple for Fenerbahce without being the primary option, and Wright played second violin to Sylvain Francisco at Zalgiris.

The ultimate test for head coach Giuseppe Poeta and Milano is whether these three players can thrive in their new roles and create nightmarish matchups for opponents. The talent is indisputably there, as they have shown throughout their careers, but everything hinges on whether they can embrace being the ones to carry this team back into the playoffs.

Olympiacos

Question: Will Sasha Vezenkov be able to carry the full regular season without burning out?

We already mentioned the luxury backup Alec Peters provided for Sasha Vezenkov, and that very dynamic could prove to be the central storyline this season for Olympiacos. Vezenkov is generally an ironman who rarely misses games, but throughout that stretch, he benefited from a top-tier backup in whom Georgios Bartzokas had complete trust.

While Mbaye Ndiaye is a very solid player, he is neither at that level nor that profile of player. This could force Vezenkov into massive minutes and, consequently, risk burnout under the weight of an unrelenting schedule – a scenario that would be borderline catastrophic for the defending champions.

Panathinaikos

Question: How long will it take for everyone to settle into their roles?

The narrative surrounding Panathinaikos‘ superteam is entirely real, even if it feels a bit worn out by now. What matters far more than the individual marquee names at Zeljko Obradovic’s disposal is how long it will actually take them to gel, accept their share of the spotlight, and adapt to not starring every single night. Panathinaikos’ fate hinges on that delicate balance.

Kendrick Nunn and Mathias Lessort have been established pillars for a while now; Nigel Hayes-Davis arrived last season, and now Sylvain Francisco and Guerschon Yabusele join the fold. Add Isaac Bonga, Brancou Badio, and Juancho Hernangomez to the mix, and you get a roster in its absolute prime – but one saddled with a glaring question mark over whether they can truly gel together. If they pull it off, the title is practically guaranteed. If they don’t, major headaches lie ahead.

Paris

Question: Will Maxime Lefevre maintain their identity and elevate it, or have they hit their ceiling?

Maxime Lefevre arrived this summer as the new head coach, continuing Paris‘ strong connection with the NBA. The team is expected to stick with its trademark style – a brand of basketball that has proven highly entertaining to watch, especially when shots are falling, but one that has also shown clear limitations.

The central task for them this season is determining whether they can make the necessary adjustments to raise their level and build upon an already solid foundation. If they manage to break through their previous limits, the immediate results might not show up overnight, but it would raise their long-term ceiling – which is ultimately far more important than short-term success.

Partizan

Question: How far can Carlik Jones take them?

Partizan enters the upcoming season as a potential dark horse, largely because expectations have tempered following everything that transpired over the past year. That lowered bar could end up being their saving grace, as reduced pressure often allows teams to play with freedom and produce positive results on the floor.

Ultimately, this squad will go only as far as Carlik Jones takes them. Last season clearly demonstrated how much his absence hurt the team, as well as the immense value he brings when on the floor. If he can unlock yet another gear in his game, Partizan could easily emerge as one of the season’s biggest surprises. Conversely, any setback involving him – be it a dip in production or missed time – could quickly derail their entire campaign.

Real Madrid

Question: Are the younger players ready to take the burden off the veterans?

Real Madrid lost some very important players this summer, such as Mario Hezonja and Trey Lyles, as new faces arrived in the locker room. Pedro Martinez has taken over, and their brand of basketball will undoubtedly look different compared to last year. However, the most critical factor might be just how prepared the younger players are to step up for the aging stars.

Theo Maledon and Andres Feliz will need to shoulder part of the responsibility alongside Facundo Campazzo, while Damian Jones and Olivier Sarr must do the same for Walter Tavares. Quite simply, the veterans are no longer in their physical prime to carry the team single-handedly through an entire grueling season, making workload management essential. If Martinez manages to balance that rotation effectively, Real Madrid becomes a fascinating team from a ceiling perspective.

Valencia

Question: How hard will reality hit them this season?

Valencia sent shockwaves through the EuroLeague last season by making a run to the Final Four, but they subsequently lost nearly all of their key pillars. Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Braxton Key, and head coach Pedro Martinez are no longer there, with fresh faces like T.J. Shorts, Armoni Brooks, and Xavi Albert brought in as replacements.

Last year’s breakout success naturally raised expectations, but their main task will be controlling what they can. Their overall success hinges precisely on that discipline. A rookie head coach and a overhauled core will need time to sync up, making it vital that early stumbles aren’t viewed as the end of the world, but rather as part of the process. The raw talent is certainly there to deliver a very solid campaign.

Virtus

Question: What is their identity?

Virtus enters the new season with a revamped roster, a new head coach in Alex Mumbru, and vastly different ambitions than in years past. At first glance, this squad appears decidedly inexperienced, perhaps even ill-equipped for a competition as unforgiving as the EuroLeague, meaning they will have to tread carefully to avoid falling into an abyss.

Simply put, Virtus currently looks like a team searching for an identity. They brought in several former NBA players, yet none are truly proven at this level or any other major stage. Meanwhile, there are too few young prospects to pivot toward a full developmental rebuild. Everything points to a team that doesn’t yet know who they are or what they want to become, forcing them to find those answers rapidly as the season unfolds – before it becomes too late.

Zalgiris

Question: Can they shoulder the weight of sky-high expectations, or will they buckle under the pressure?

Zalgiris kicks off the campaign featuring arguably their strongest roster since their historic EuroLeague championship season. Jonas Valanciunas returns home to Lithuania following a lengthy NBA career, joining a formidable core alongside Carsen Edwards, Nigel Williams-Goss, Azuolas Tubelis, Sterling Brown, and Marius Grigonis.

Historically, Zalgiris hasn’t been viewed as a heavyweight contender chasing the highest hardware, but that narrative shifts dramatically this year – a change in dynamic that could heavily impact their trajectory. The roster certainly possesses no shortage of top-level experience, but carrying the burden of genuine expectation is a completely different challenge when crunch time arrives.