By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Trabzonspor is officially heading to the Basketball Champions League for the 2026–27 season. Sporting director Comert Kuce announced the club’s strategic decision to decline a long-term offer from Euroleague Basketball for BKT EuroCup participation, citing structural advantages and a heavier financial yield.
“The EuroCup and the Champions League are two separate, same-level competitions,” the 50-year-old executive explained in his statement to 61saat on Thursday. “The EuroCup offered us a 3+2 year contract, a long-term deal with significant financial obligations. When we met with FIBA officials, they provided us with basic information about NBA Europe and clear information about its future. There’s a huge difference in the revenue distribution of both cups in favor of the BCL. After considering all these factors and discussing with our president, we decided to participate in the Champions League.”
The full list of competing teams for the 11th edition of the BCL is scheduled to be officially announced by FIBA later in June.
Following a successful 6th-place finish in the 2025-26 Regular Season of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi with a 19–11 record and a playoff quarterfinal exit against Bahcesehir Koleji, club president Ertugrul Dogan has significantly backed the basketball department by increasing the budget. Trabzonspor’s transfer strategy is moving quickly, with a hard deadline to finalize the entire roster by July 10. Kuce explicitly declared that they will start the season with a total of eight foreign and six Turkish players.
Meanwhile, the club has agreed to terms with Tolga Gecim, Troy Caupain, and Brady Manek, and has also parted ways with star guard Marcquise Reed.
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