By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
A decade ago, the Basketball Champions League was born, and after many twists and turns, not only has the competition established itself, but the future seems totally connected with the NBA Europe project.
To put it in short, the BCL is not just here to stay, but all indications are that it will soon become the pathway to the NBA Europe project for the teams, which will not be part of the core group of clubs.
That’s why the 10th season of the competition is a prelude for things to come, having an interesting lineup that includes, for the first time, ALBA Berlin and Juventut Badalona.
Simply put, this is the best incarnation yet of the BCL, and there’s a clear path for the future of the competition and the teams that are part of it.
Even if the BCL teams are not necessarily part of the NBA Europe project, the BCL will provide them with the opportunity to get a spot in the new competition when the time comes, creating a pyramid structure with the domestic leagues at the base of it.
This was starting to be evident since last year, and the meeting of BCL finalists Galatasaray with NBA commissioner Adam Silver in London reinforced this notion.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
After all, nothing is yet set in stone except the fact that this is going to be the most diverse season yet in the competition, with Azerbaijani champions BC Sabah and Patrioti Levice, the top team of the Slovak league, representing their countries in the BCL for the first time.
And if you are looking for a more mainstream treat, Ricky Rubio, who returned to Badalona, will provide the biggest yet infusion of star power in the competition.
There’s something for everyone, so sit back and enjoy.