By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
No matter what happens in the changing European basketball landscape, this will be the end of this competition format, with 20 teams playing each other twice in a marathon that will end at the EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi, the same city where the season kicked off with the first-ever EuroLeague Basketball SuperCup.
It will be a season to remember, especially if you are among the new fans from the U.S., as there is much to learn about the tradition and quirks of the European game.
Still, basketball is global, and here are 10 storylines to follow if you need an introduction to the league without feeling like a stranger to the game you know from the States.
Will Tony Parker succeed as a head coach?
This one is pretty much self-explanatory. Tony Parker, who is also the owner of LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne until further notice, will now sit on the bench as well, after publicly stating that his current goal is to become a head coach, even at the NBA level. This season may end up being his audition for a return to the NBA in a different role, following the tradition of Coach Pop.
Will Jonas Valanciunas’s return to Lithuania make Zalgiris a real contender?
Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas was one of the most prominent European players in the NBA over the last decade. In the summer of 2025, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens tried to lure him, without success. This summer, he returned to his home country to join Zalgiris Kaunas, which won the EuroLeague before its modern incarnation back in 1999, when it was still called the European Champions Cup. That’s no small challenge for him.
Is T.J. Warren still a force on the court?
During the 2019-20 season, T.J. Warren emerged as the best thing to happen to the Indiana Pacers in a while. He even scored 53 points in the NBA bubble, but an injury on Dec. 31, 2020, changed everything. With Paris Basketball, he will have room to operate, and the possibility of him making a difference again is tantalizing.
Is the return of Zeljko Obradovic the missing ingredient for Panathinaikos?
Under coach Zeljko Obradovic, Panathinaikos became a dynasty, conquering Europe’s top prize in 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011. Since then, it has won the EuroLeague only once, in 2024, and the days of dominance are a thing of the past. Can that change with Zoc back on the bench and arguably the most expensive roster in the competition’s history?
Is Talen Horton-Tucker ready to lead Fenerbahce to the title?
Fenerbahce, the 2025 champion, signed the former Los Angeles Laker last summer, and he immediately emerged as one of the top players in the competition. Still, Olympiacos Piraeus won the trophy, and Horton-Tucker will now have a second chance to lead the Turkish powerhouse to the top and become one of the few players to win both the NBA title (in 2020 with the Lakers) and the EuroLeague trophy.
Can Jean Montero play at the next level and be the next big name to leave Europe for the NBA?
The 23-year-old Dominican guard was one of the key reasons for Valencia‘s Final Four run last year, and rumors about him heading to the NCAA, or even the NBA, were a daily occurrence during the season. The undrafted guard signed with defending EuroLeague champion Olympiacos, but it seems to be just a matter of time before he tries the NBA, and this season could be the test. After all, back in 2021-22, Montero was projected as a lottery pick while playing in Overtime Elite.
Can the Knicks still hope for a boost from Rokas Jokubaitis?
For many years, the possibility of Jokubaitis moving to the NBA was on the table, and the New York Knicks showed some interest. Obviously, things may have changed now that the Knicks have won the NBA title, but everyone will be cheering for Jokubaitis’s return after he missed the entire 2025-26 club season with FC Bayern Munich because of a severe left knee ACL and meniscus injury suffered at FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
Will Olivier Sarr be an asset for Real Madrid?
His brother is established in the NBA, but the French big man, who split his time between the G League and the NBA from 2021 until this summer, signed with powerhouse Real Madrid. Can he deliver in Europe what he couldn’t in the NBA? It is a very interesting test for him, and also for the level of the league. Speaking of NBA siblings, there’s a similar case in Jacob Toppin, who is playing for Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv.
Will Dario Saric’s homecoming be a success?
Saric returned to Anadolu Efes Istanbul, the club he left a decade ago to pursue an NBA career. The 32-year-old forward made an impact in the NBA, and the question is how much gas he has left in the tank to help his old team, the back-to-back champion in 2021 and 2022, become a contender again.
Will the NBA and the EuroLeague collaborate on a joint competition?
That’s the million-dollar (or euro) question making headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. Do you really want to know the answer? Then tune in for a great season on and off the court.
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