By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The 2025-26 NBA Regular Season opens on Tuesday with two games, including Luka Doncic starting his first full campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Slovenian superstar, alongside Serbian Nikola Jokic and Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, are the headliners in a record-breaking European field of 71 players across the opening night rosters. They cover the majority of a list of 135 international players, also a new record, from 43 countries beyond the United States.
Naturally, the European field stretches to several standouts in the recent EuroBasket 2025, including the Most Valuable Player Dennis Schroder, Alperen Sengun, and Franz Wagner.
Six European players fit for the New York Knicks, including three from France in Guerschon Yabusele, Mohamed Diawara, and Pacome Dadiet. Five Europeans are starting the new season with the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic. Four are on the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards rosters.
Beyond the players, three European head coaches are also ready to go, with Spanish Jordi Fernandez in charge of the Nets, Finnish Tuomas Iisalo at the Memphis Grizzlies, and Serbian Darko Rajakovic at the Toronto Raptors.
The growing field combines with the league’s plans to create a new top-tier competition in Europe. In collaboration with FIBA, the new European league, widely labeled as NBA Europe, is expected to launch in 2027.
Opening night starts in Paycom Center with the defending champions Thunder hosting the Rockets, and shifts to crypto.com Arena with the Lakers welcoming the Golden State Warriors.