Top 5 Basketball Teams in the History of The EuroLeague
With names such as Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokić dominating the landscape of the NBA in recent years, it’s no surprise that more and more attention is being focused on European basketball. Slovenian megastar Dončić has led his Dallas Mavericks to a seven-game winning streak, Jokić is looking for a threepeat of NBA MVP awards, while Giannis led the Milwaukee Bucks to a first NBA Championship in 40 years back in 2021.
As things stand, the Boston Celtics are currently the favorites in the latest NBA odds against Miami Heat at -370. Yet, when it comes to lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, the Massachusetts-based outfit has lost five of their last ten. As such, the aforementioned European trident – who represent the Mavericks, the Bucks, and the Denver Nuggets respectively – are hunting down their more illustrious competitor, both in the betting futures and in the league table.
With the success of Dončić and co., it’s clear to see why scouts the world over are paying more attention to Europe, specifically, the EuroLeague, which is the elite basketball competition on that side of the pond. But it isn’t just scouts that are paying attention.
Thanks to teams such as Serbian duo Red Star and Partizan Belgrade, the EuroLeague has gone viral in recent weeks courtesy of the incredible atmosphere on display inside arenas all over the continent. The recent derby between the two clubs from Serbia’s capital city recently made headlines.
Initially, those headlines were thanks to the reception soccer star Aleksandr Mitrovic received when he was introduced to the fans in attendance. But it was Red Star who stole the spotlight, scoring a last gasp buzzer beater to secure the victory over their eternal rivals and sending their 2,000 away supporters into absolute delirium.
With the EuroLeague on the rise, it’s only fair to European basketball that we acknowledge the league’s heritage, and when it comes to the EuroLeague, there are certain teams that are synonymous with success. Over the years, these teams have consistently put together championship-caliber squads that have left their mark on the European basketball landscape. Whether it’s dominating the regular season or capturing a championship, these teams have shown themselves to be some of the most successful clubs in all of EuroLeague basketball history.
CSKA Moscow
The first team that comes to mind is arguably the most successful in EuroLeague basketball history, CSKA Moscow. The Russian powerhouse has won eight championships since the league’s inception, including two titles in three seasons between 2006 and 2008. Over those three years, CSKA Moscow was virtually unstoppable, winning the majority of their games in both the regular season and playoffs.
Panathinaikos
The second team, Panathinaikos, is one of the most storied clubs in the EuroLeague. Panathinaikos has won six EuroLeague titles, most recently in 2011. Throughout the early 2000s, the Greeks dominated the continental landscape, winning three championships in four years between 2001 and 2005.
Throughout the team’s history, the squad has had some of the best players in Europe, such as Dimitris Diamantidis and Vassilis Spanoulis, who played a big part in helping Panathinaikos capture multiple titles.
Real Madrid
As is the case with their namesake in soccer’s UEFA Champions League, the most successful team in the history of the EuroLeague is Real Madrid. They have won ten titles throughout their history, one more than the aforementioned Moscovites. Prior to the 1980s, the club from the Spanish capital was the dominant force in the league however, they have picked up just three of their titles since 1980.
Los Blancos returned to prominence throughout the 2010s, winning two titles in three years between 2015 and 2018. As things stand this term, they are currently one win shy of the top spot in the league, and they will be aiming to add another trophy to their overflowing collection in April. Real Madrid has developed a strong tradition of success, which has been bolstered by the team’s star players such as Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernandez.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Last, but certainly not least, we have Maccabi Tel Aviv. They have won six championships since the EuroLeague’s inception. Led by the likes of Tony Parker and Omri Casspi, Maccabi Tel Aviv was able to secure multiple championships between 2004 and 2014, whilst finishing as runners-up on no less than nine occasions. While the team has not been able to win a title since 2014, Maccabi Tel Aviv remains one of the most successful teams in EuroLeague basketball history.
While there are many successful teams in the EuroLeague, the aforementioned four have been the most consistently successful throughout the competition’s history. Whether it’s Panathinaikos’ storied history, Real Madrid’s tradition of success, or Maccabi Tel Aviv’s incredible amount of appearances in the top two, these teams have proven to be the cream of the crop in EuroLeague basketball.
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