The 2023-24 EuroLeague season is almost upon us and with it new fans will tune in from all over the world. Primarily from Europe, but new viewers from America get entranced by their favorite game being played on the old continent every season. These new fans often have the same question when they start watching.
Who should I root for?
The reality is, that there are reasons to root for or against every single EuroLeague team. It all comes down to personal preference, and what you're looking for when picking a rooting interest. Do you like rooting for teams that most people love? Do you like rooting for teams that most people hate? Are you a bandwagoner? Do you like rooting for up-and-coming teams trying to make the most of challenging circumstances?
No matter how you answered all of these questions, there's still a handful of teams that could fit your desires. EuroLeague is full of historically successful clubs, formerly successful clubs, successful newcomers, and yes — even unsuccessful newcomers. All are welcome, many remain, and some come in and out. We covered how teams participated in EuroLeague earlier this summer.
Now, instead of doing a deep dive on each NBA team individually and who their exact EuroLeague counterpart would be, which would be impossible, we decided to group teams and provide a brief overview of who you should root for if you want more of the same or a change of pace from your favorite EuroLeague team.
Maybe you're sick of rooting for a team that's got high expectations every season and want to root for a team that treasures every win. Or perhaps you're sick of rooting for a loser and just want to say screw it and bandwagon with a winner and rub some championships in opposing fans' faces. We're going to give you both of those options, with a brief description of why this EuroLeague team could fit your rooting interests.
All NBA teams and all EuroLeague teams are included. Now, let's begin.
EuroLeague Team you should root for if you're a fan of the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, or Washington Wizards
Atlanta Hawks
More of the same: Olimpia Milano
Why? You've got one really good player — Trae Young for the Hawks and Nikola Mirotic for Milano — but no one is particularly fond of them. Mirotic drew more ire this summer after the toxicity of his transfer saga. Young's has been building around the league and even within Atlanta's locker room for some time. Atlanta's a great city, not quite Milan — not even close to Milan really, sorry Atlanta — but still a nice city with a deep sports culture. Both teams never really win anything either. Their teams are often good, but rarely champions.
Change of pace: FC Barcelona
Why? Barcelona wins sometimes, at least domestically they do. They always have expectations and are usually successful. Whether those expectations are reasonable or not is a different question, but this will likely bring more happiness than rooting for the Hawks.
Charlotte Hornets
More of the same: LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Why? Maybe you like losing, you like that you head into every season with the mentality that it's fun to have zero expectations of success. You've got your entertaining dynamic guard — LaMelo Ball and Nando De Colo — and some other fun pieces, like P.J. Washington and Mike Scott. That's enough for you.
Change of pace: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Why? Maccabi is one of the most successful clubs in the history of EuroLeague basketball and after a run of poor seasons following their 2014 title, they are on the cusp of contending and may break through this season. Get on the bandwagon now if you want to root for a winner.
Los Angeles Clippers
More of the same: Valencia Basket
Why? You enjoy being the less successful younger child. Who cares that your domestic rivals are way more successful? You've got a nice arena — or are getting a new one soon — and excellent team facilities. You don't need success to have nice things.
Change of pace: Real Madrid
Why? You're jealous of your older siblings, you envy their success, and you want some of your own.
Minnesota Timberwolves
More of the same: FC Bayern Munich
Why? You never win, you've got a new foreign big man that could help you be successful but you're not sure. You've got fun young guards though, like Sylvain Francisco or Anthony Edwards. Last season was bad but everyone is kind of sleeping on you for the 2023-24 season, and you're ready to correct those who stepped on you when you were down.
Change of pace: Olympiacos
Why? There have been a couple of times this century when you thought YOU were going to be the new dynasty. Kevin Garnett was supposed to take you there, then Karl-Anthony Towns. Neither delivered, so you're going to root for the team that has been a dynasty since 2010: Olympiacos.
Sacramento Kings
More of the same: FC Bayern Munich
Why? Making the playoffs is a successful season. You've got fun guards and a good and experienced head coach. Maybe you break through to the Final Four one of these seasons, maybe you won't. You're along for the ride either way.
Change of pace: Milano
Why? They may not win a lot, but they win more than you're used to. They expect to make the playoffs but aren't quite a guaranteed contender every year. This lets you root for a winner without bandwagoning because you're loyal to your Kings roots.
Washington Wizards
More of the same: LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Why? A nice city, but you're not known for basketball success. You're okay with that, the nice city is more important.
Change of pace: Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Why? John Wall and Bradley Beal were supposed to bring you what Steph Curry and Klay Thompson brought the Warriors. Now, you're getting behind Darius Thompson and Shane Larkin to get the dynamic championship-winning backcourt you yearn for.
EuroLeague Team you should root for if you're a fan of the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, or the Utah Jazz
Memphis Grizzlies
More of the same: FC Barcelona
Why? You're good, not great. Your team is led by a thrilling point guard — Nicolas Lapprovitola and Ja Morant — and that's all you need to enjoy basketball. If you win something that matters along the way, great. If you don't, that's okay too. Lastly, let's not forget that Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, and Juan Carlos Navarro all played for both the Grizzlies and Barcelona.
Change of pace: Real Madrid
Why? You want those championship or bust expectations, you want to root for a big market team with big market players who want to stay there. This is your chance.
New Orleans Pelicans
More of the same: Bayern Munich
Why? You should be good? But you keep coming up short because of things that seem to be out of your control? The breakthrough is coming eventually though, you're sure of that.
Change of pace: Panathinaikos
Why? You want championships. You want to point to decorated history when people talk trash about your modern struggles. Finally, you can have that up your sleeve.
Orlando Magic
More of the same: Zalgiris Kaunas
Why? You're fun to watch and for the most part, everyone likes you because you are not seen as a threat. You watch basketball because it's fun, not to be ultra-competitive.
Change of pace: Fenerbahce
Why? There are new dynasties that you can hitch your wagon to while maybe still avoiding the bandwagon label. Fenerbahce is one of them, get on now.
Portland Trail Blazers
More of the same: Baskonia
Why? Your best players always leave, and you never win a championship, but that pain is actually what drives your love for the game. Having the players before they start winning championships is the best part.
Change of pace: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Why? Pick one of the most successful teams in the history of the competition, but one that isn't quite comparable to the Lakers or the Celtics.
Toronto Raptors
More of the same: Crvena Zvezda Red Star Belgrade
Why? Your fans are incredibly passionate but also despised by the rest of the league. You don't win, but who cares? Passion matters more than titles.
Change of pace: Anadolu Efes Istanbul
Why? They didn't make the playoffs last season, so no one can say you're just picking one of the best teams, right?
Utah Jazz
More of the same: Zalgiris Kaunas
Why? You've got a great basketball culture. Not a ton to show for it, but everyone respects your organization regardless.
Change of pace: AS Monaco Basket
Why? Who needs culture when money can buy success?
EuroLeague Team you should root for if you're a fan of the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, or Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
More of the same: AS Monaco
Why? The Mike James connection and you like having an owner who has no problem splashing the cash as long as you're contending.
Change of pace: ALBA Berlin
Why? Remember when Tyler Ulis was your starting point guard? If that was the last time you were happy as a Suns fan then ALBA Berlin is the team for you.
Milwaukee Bucks
More of the same: Anadolu Efes
Why? You finally got your breakthrough championship in 2021 and you're still a contending team. You can ride a similar wave in EuroLeague by rooting for Anadolu Efes Istanbul.
Change of pace: Zalgiris Kaunas
Why? Still fun, but without all the expectations. Instead of worrying whether or not your star player will leave for a bigger club in the off-season, you already know it's going to happen so you're numb to it.
Indiana Pacers
More of the same: Baskonia
Why? Like the Pacers, Baskonia has a lot of rosters from their past that make you say wow! That was a good team, how did they not win a championship? Well, they didn't. That's probably not changing soon, but you never know.
Change of pace: AS Monaco
Why? Forget history, forget culture forget all of it. You want to be successful now and that's final.
Detroit Pistons
More of the same: Virtus Bologna
Why? You won some championships. It's been a while, but you did! You're not good now, but maybe that will change sometime soon.
Change of pace: Olympiacos
Why? They won in the past, and they win now. It's the best of both worlds, who doesn't want that?
Denver Nuggets
More of the same: Anadolu Efes
Why? You're finally a championship-winning organization. Newfound pressure comes with that, but you relish it.
Change of pace: LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne
Why? Basement dwelling isn't for everyone, but you're not like everyone else. Someone's got to finish last and it's going to be you!
Dallas Mavericks
More of the same: Partizan Belgrade
Why? You've got one of the best players in the league — Kevin Punter and Luka Doncic — and you did win a championship that one time! You can do it again, you promise.
Change of pace: Virtus Bologna
Why? Forgiving success now for success in the past. You want more to point at in your favorite team's history. Bologna gives you that.
EuroLeague Team you should root for if you're a fan of the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, or New York Knicks
New York Knicks
More of the same: Zalgiris Kaunas
Why? You invented basketball, you're the definition of basketball heritage. When Americans think of basketball they think of New York. When Europeans think of basketball they think of Lithuania. You don't have a lot of championships to show for that, but that doesn't matter as much to you.
Change of pace: Fenerbahce
Why? Historical importance is for losers, and you want to root for a winner. That's Fenerbahce.
Miami Heat
More of the same: Partizan Belgrade
Why? You protect home court well, you've got the best coach in the league, a squad full of tough players who know how to grind out victories, and everyone hates playing you.
Change of pace: Olimpia Milano
Why? You still want to root for a winning team, but you want to look good doing it.
Houston Rockets
More of the same: Virtus Bologna
Why? You have had some good teams over the years, you're not sure of the direction your organization is currently heading in, and those wildcard elements are what you love.
Change of pace: Barcelona
Why? Your team never gets over the hump. Barcelona sometimes gets over the hump. That's enough for you.
Golden State Warriors
More of the same: Olympiacos
Why? A modern-day dynasty driven to multiple championships by a star point guard with limitless shooting range. Vassilis Spanoulis has retired, but his legacy delivered something greater.
Change of pace: Valencia Basket
Why? If the We Believe Warriors were the happiest you've ever been as a sports fan, then Valencia is your team. They had a similar moment when they won the Liga ACB title in 2017.
Cleveland Cavaliers
More of the same: Partizan Belgrade
Why? You were a contending team at one point in your history. Now, you've just returned to being a good team again. You want more though, you want to win a championship again. The taste of that first one was greater than anything you've ever experienced.
Change of pace: Real Madrid
Why? You're done being a small market team that everyone forgets. Pick the giants, and root for a team whose season is a failure with anything short of a championship.
Brooklyn Nets
More of the same: Crvena Zvezda Red Star Belgrade
Why? You're not as well known as your city rivals but you've had more success recently? When are you going to get the respect you deserve?
Change of pace: Panathinaikos
Why? That season where you got Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden was everything. Putting a contending team together in a matter of months is fun. Experience it again with Panathinaikos.
EuroLeague Team you should root for if you're a fan of the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, or the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
More of the same: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Why? You're a dynasty. Not the biggest dynasty, but a dynasty nevertheless.
Change of pace: AS Monaco
Why? You've realized that the phrase more money more problems is constantly said by people with more money, but fewer problems.
Philadelphia 76ers
More of the same: FC Barcelona
Why? You are always good, but never good enough. You always come up short in the biggest moments. You're a masochist basketball fan and you embrace it.
Change of pace: Panathinaikos
Why? The Celtics of EuroLeague. It's traitorous but understandable.
Oklahoma City Thunder
More of the same: Partizan Belgrade
Why? A fun team, led by a dynamic guard, with an inspiring home crowd. You root for teams that check all of these boxes.
Change of pace: Olympiacos
Why? Winning is fun. You've learned that, and that's what you're looking for.
Los Angeles Lakers
More of the same: Real Madrid
Why? This one is easy. You're flashy, you're beautiful, you're exciting, you've got gold, and you win. If that's what you love as a Lakers fan, root for Real Madrid.
Change of pace: Zalgiris
Why? Tired of the glitz and glamour and looking for some grit and rind? Kaunas is where you'll find it.
Chicago Bulls
More of the same: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Why? You were a dynasty at one point. The Bulls aren't anymore and don't seem to be on the verge of returning to that. But Maccabi does, get involved now.
Change of pace: AS Monaco
Why? Forget history, stories, and the like. You're sick of losing and want to root for a team that's set up to win now.
Boston Celtics
More of the same: Panathinaikos
Why? A near-perfect comparison. They wear green, their logo is a shamrock, they've won a lot of championships in the past but not so much now. They are contenders though, and ready to return to their glory days.
Change of pace: ALBA Berlin
Why? If you're crushed by the historical pressure and sick of listening to oldheads say things like "The Celtics I grew up with wouldn't have folded like that!" then this is your escape. No expectations, just basketball.
