Carlik Jones reminded us why he’s the daddy in the Belgrade derby but this should never have been so close. Partizan’s superstar delivered big against Crvena Zvezda in Euroleague but concerns remain over how dependent Joan Penarroya’s side are on him, writes Emmet Ryan.

Dads are great. I’d even go so far as to say they’re important. My Dad, may he rest in peace, was a great lad. Tonight, in Belgrade, Carlik Jones looked the most Dad of a player for better or worse since Johannes Thiemann.

The thing about Dads, as opposed to uncles like me, is that they can lead by example but also show it’s ok to fail. Eventually, they know they have to let the kids loose without them to catch them.

On this Euroleague night, we saw that Partizan aren’t quite sure what to do with that last part. Like a good Dad, Carlik Jones was able to pick up the pieces and get his side over the line against Crvena Zvezda in the Belgrade derby.

Setting a good example

There was so much to like about Partizan through the first three quarters and Carlik Jones was the key reason why. After an impressive first quarter, he went left into contact early in the second for a righty finish.

The sloppy turnover that came soon after wasn’t ideal. Yet a good Dad knows it’s important to show the youngsters that it’s alright to make mistakes so long as you pick yourself up and try again. A Spanish pick and role for a dime settled things again.

Thinking back to the version of Partizan that Jones first joined. That was a team that didn’t know how to react when things went wrong. Jones showed that these things inevitably happen and you go again. He connected on a lovely step back after creating space as Partizan looked to be cruising to a much-needed Euroleague win.

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This is fine

With a 14 point lead at the break, Partizan looked poised to demolish Crvena Zvezda in front of a raucous crowd. Carlik Jones was a big reason why. First he drew a foul from Semi Ojeleye with the shot clock almost gone on a blown play. Then came a chasedown block on a blown play.

This was all looking so good. Just as things started to look shaky, there he was with a score to push the lead back to 13 points. It wasn’t just Jones, it should be said. Kevarrius Hayes had an extraordinary night. His 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks came with just 1 foul committed and none through the first three quarters.

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So, about that

Carlik Jones sat early in the fourth quarter, with Partizan up 65-50. Everything fell to pieces. A 16-6 run for Crvena Zvezda eventually made Joan Penarroya call Jones back into the action. He was far from perfect on his reintroduction but it was hard to blame him.

Movement matters at all levels of basketball. Jones having to work with statues offensively was a recipe for disaster in Euroleague. Yet he just about found a way. After falling into a hole in overtime, Jones tied it up. Then Zvezda went up by 4, so Jones went to work narrowing the gap again.

Down three later and a Daddy’s here three from Jones tied things up. Don’t worry kids, Carlik’s here to fix it all. He finally got the movement he needed on the final offensive set before the ball worked its way to Alessandro Pajola for the game winning three.

Listen

Partizan got the win and ended their losing streak in Euroleague. Carlik Jones had an impressive 26 points with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Kevarrious Hayes was clearly impressive. Still, it should never have been this close.

The utter lack of movement by Partizan the moment Jones sat in the fourth simply isn’t acceptable. If I wasn’t in a desperately posh pub in Dublin watching the game, I’d have been screaming at Joan Penarroya through my laptop to fix it.

Even when he came back, things didn’t improve until the last moments that mattered. Jones is exactly what this Partizan side needs to be relevant. Beating a Crvena Zvezda side that played this poorly for 30 minutes shouldn’t have asked so much of him in the 15 that followed.

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Access to basketball has gotten easier but there’s still work to do. Emmet Ryan on the baby steps to give fans in Europe more access to more competitions but the need to make some giant leaps. Emmet Ryan on the slow progress being made.

The new season is in full swing and, no matter where you are in Europe, getting to watch every game you want to see isn’t exactly a dream experience. While Euroleague, Eurocup, Basketball Champions League, and FIBA Europe Cup are easy to catch, you take one step beyond the pan-continental competitions and things get complicated.

You need the skills of a private detective to find some of Europe’s biggest games in domestic leagues. That usually involves having multiple accounts across a range of providers. Even then, you might hit a geographic restriction brick wall that has no legal route to access.

In Ireland, where I’m based, and the UK the natural one to point at here is the ABA League. It used to be worse however as, for a very long time, watching any games in France, Spain, or Italy proved troublesome. The fan experience shouldn’t be this hard.

The great basketball treasure hunt

The majority of fans largely only care about one team and two or three competitions. There’s a significant minority, like me, that will watch anything. Across both groups however are those that will watch casually if something is easy to find and pushed towards them.

Right now, it’s anything but easy. The NBA, Euroleague, and FIBA (through Dazn mostly) already depend on three separate subscriptions in most jurisdictions. With rights varying from country to country, even going to somewhere like r/Euroleague isn’t necessarily going to help for advice.

Subscriptions add up quickly and not just with the obvious financial hit. Maintaining a range of passwords and logins is straightforward these days but that involves where every service is. That creates a discovery barrier for customers and reduces the overall reach of any single game or competition.

A chance? A hope!

This isn’t the first time this site has called for a Netflix of basketball. This past summer saw real steps towards that from two contenders. Euroleague TV expanded its rights to include selected games from Australia, China, France, Germany, Greece, and Italy. Dazn, which took over provision of Courtside 1891, has either added or finally exercised its existing rights for Spain, Portugal, Britain, and Japan.

These are on top of the pan-European competitions shown by both providers. It’s far from perfect. Notable examples that require other platforms include Türkiye, ABA League, and Lithuania. Still it is a step forward.

While there are some territorial variations, consolidation into the core two or three apps (including the NBA) is a notable step forward. It increases discoverability considerably. That said, there’s still work to do. Euroleague TV for starters could push the games outside of Euroleague and Eurocup far better, especially on desktop, to improve discoverability.

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This isn’t rocket science

Access means far more than just the legal right to watch a game, be it paid or free. Marketing doesn’t even need a huge all-out blitz. If fans know where games are on, when they are on, and are reminded at the best time to engage them, they’re more likely to watch those games.

Slapping a pile of games on a platform is just the beginning. If you want people to watch them, you need to engage with the potential audience. This is most relevant at a time when cost of living issues make people more prone to cutting subscriptions. The broader a range of content you get a customer to associate with your service, the more likely they are to keep paying subs.

Reducing friction is the easiest win for any provider. The more content you can pile into your app that is relevant to your audience, the more you should help that audience find it. A die hard Partizan fan may not want to watch Porto play 6 days out of 7 but they might well tune in to Porto vs Benfica if the messaging lands at a time that works for them.

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Remember what you’re selling

This is the mistake that so many content platforms seem to forget. You sell someone a house, you probably don’t need to engage with the customer much after the first purchase. If you sell them a subscription and are so idle, it’s going to cost you.

Sure, you might get them to forget about it for a while but, more often than not, they eventually remember to cancel. They also probably won’t resubscribe later. Doesn’t it make more sense to make them want to keep you? The best way to do that is to do the work for the consumer.

The product is not the problem. Basketball has spent decades making people fall in love with it. The sport has succeeded. You don’t stop working on a relationship once you get that first special look in the eye. That’s when the work begins.

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The NBA returns today, it even has a game at a friendly timeslot for Europeans. Yet that’s not how we’re getting ready for it. No, instead Emmet Ryan examines three Euros with points to prove this season. Here’s why Giannis Antetokounmpo, Franz Wagner, and Domantas Sabonis are the three most interesting Euros entering the new season.

When this site started, over 19 years ago, Europeans were fairly well represented in the NBA with over 40 but that number has cleared 70 now. Moreover, far more players from this side of the continent are playing major roles for their sides.

So, rather than just do a bog standard Euro-centric preview of the season, we’ve picked three players with different points to prove coming into the campaign. Giannis Antetokounmpo has moved to the Miami Heat. Domantas Sabonis is on a Sacramento Kings side that likely plans to trade him. Franz Wagner, well, he’s either going to be the guy for the Orlando Magic or he’ll be packaged to potentially be the guy for somebody else.

A new home, the same ambition

Giannis Antetokounmpo was simply brilliant by any reasonable measure for the Milwaukee Bucks. A NBA championship, a NBA Cup, two MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year, a 10 time All Star, and a 7 time first team all NBA player.

Yet the Bucks just could repeat the magic. Eventually, the move was going to happen so he took his talents to South Beach. Pairing up with Bam Adebayo is obviously appealing but the supporting cast at large is thin.

In a fiercely competitive Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat aren’t even locks to make the playoffs. Considering that Giannis has nothing else to prove individually, that’s a concern. Getting this team into the postseason and going deep is the only acceptable result. Anything less and the move will have been a lateral one from what he left in Milwaukee.

Rebuilding the reputation

The Sacramento Kings were just awful last year. Missing Domantas Sabonis for most of the campaign didn’t help, with the Lithuanian limited to just 19 games. Still, even with him healthy the Kings had a low ceiling. It doesn’t seem much higher entering this campaign.

The focus now for Sacramento seems to be on developing a young core. Sabonis, aged 30, is on the wrong side of what his side is looking for age wise. Still, we’re talking about a player who is a tremendous package for scoring, rebounding, and creativity. He is far more suited being a relevant piece on a NBA team that wants to be good now.

This season may well decide if Sabonis ends up staying with the Kings. This is the penultimate year of his current deal so it’s genuinely hard to imagine he doesn’t get moved for draft assets. Still, proving he’s still got it and is recovered will go a long way towards proving he can deliver at the top level of this league.

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Is this finally it?

The Orlando Magic are getting close to having to make some big decisions around its core. The Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero combo seems to overlap a touch too much in what they bring. The result has been three straight first round exists.

With a new head coach, perhaps this is the chance for Wagner to redefine what he does. Of course, this will also be his first NBA season without his brother Moe alongside him. It’s quite the season of change ahead for the 25 year old.

Now really feels like the time, at least in Orlando, to turn his promise into results. For Wagner, there’s a shot at a statement season. Failing that, he might well start to consider if he’s in the best place to be his best self. Either way, there’s a lot riding on this campaign.

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Different measures of success

For Giannis Antetokounmpo, getting through at least one playoff round with the Miami Heat seems the minimal acceptable season. This despite the Heat being odds against to even make the postseason.

With Domantas Sabonis, it’s really about excelling individually. Everything beyond that, aside from maybe reassuring everyone that he’s 100 per cent healthy, is side dressing. He may stay with the Sacramento Kings or may move to a NBA contender.

As for Franz Wagner, he’s got to find out what’s best for him and if the Orlando Magic is where he can achieve that. It’s a long season. The earlier we get answers, the more likely they’re bad ones. All three should hope we’ve got to wait to make a judgement call.

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Two summers ago, Guerschon Yabusele was a $2.1 million bargain for the Philadelphia 76ers, signed on a one-year deal after his Olympic final against the United States. This summer, after a season split between the Knicks and Bulls, Panathinaikos gave him €12.6 million over three years, one of the three biggest contracts in European basketball.  Philadelphia, meanwhile, signed LeBron James for $8 million over two years.

Per season, Europe is now paying Yabusele about what the NBA’s most famous player will earn in Philadelphia. That sounds like a money race closing in. Look past the stars to the payrolls around them, and the distance between Europe and the NBA is as wide as it has ever been.

Where Europe’s money race stands

The European money is real. As this site’s series on the economics of the game has set out, average EuroLeague club revenue has reached €22.3 million, up 14%, club values have risen 40% in three years and a €30 million annual spend is now common at the top. Panathinaikos lead the 2025-26 player-budget table at an estimated €26.5 million to €27 million after tax, ahead of Olympiacos at €22 million to €22.5 million and the newcomers Hapoel Tel Aviv and Dubai.

So is the bill. Panathinaikos lost about €43 million on €32 million of revenue in 2023-24 before cutting that to a €2.5 million loss on €42 million in 2025-26. Olympiacos lost €16.6 million on €25.5 million in 2024-25.

Some clubs have stepped off the treadmill. JL Bourg turned down a EuroLeague place rather than stretch a town of 42,000 and a 3,548-seat gym, and Unicaja Malaga and Alba Berlin left for the Basketball Champions League and kept winning trophies. “Valencia Basket cannot engage in multi-million dollar bidding wars,” general manager Enric Carbonell said.

The NBA case study: Philadelphia

Philadelphia’s summer started with a trade. On 6 July, the 76ers sent Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to Boston for Jaylen Brown. James followed on his two-year, $8 million deal, a price set as much by the NBA’s rules as by his own wish to chase a title. Having used their mid-level exception, the 76ers were hard-capped and could offer no free agent more than a minimum contract without first shedding salary.

The result is a $205.6 million payroll for 2026-27, $5.2 million over the luxury tax line and just under the first apron. Joel Embiid ($58.0 million) and Brown ($57.7 million) each earn more than Panathinaikos spends on its whole squad, on the after-tax figures European clubs report, and Tyrese Maxey adds $40.8 million. The full payroll is more than four times Panathinaikos’ total club revenue. Expectations moved with the money. A team that won 45 games last season, beating a preseason total of 43.5, now carries a win total of 50.5 and is priced among the Eastern Conference favorites. “I didn’t leave my family to lose in the second round,” James said at media day.

Does money buy wins?

Philadelphia’s own record says not reliably. Since 2018-19, the 76ers have started four full seasons with 50.5 or more. Philadelphia’s win total record shows they went over twice, with 51 wins in 2021-22 and 54 in 2022-23, and under twice: 51 against 53.5 in 2018-19 and 24 against 50.5 in 2024-25. A fifth, 2019-20, was cut short by the pandemic, with the 76ers on 43 wins against a total of 54.5.

Chart Source: 76ers Win Total

2024-25 is the warning. Paul George arrived on a max contract, Embiid played 19 games and a roster built to contend won 24, more than 26 below its number. Yabusele was on that team, and one of the few cheap contracts that worked.

Europe has its own version of the lesson. Fenerbahce won the 2025 EuroLeague while losing €4 million to €5 million, and Unicaja has won two Basketball Champions League titles and two Copas del Rey since leaving the EuroLeague in 2021.

Why Europe can’t simply copy it

Philadelphia operates inside a closed league with a salary cap, a luxury tax, and two aprons that limit what any team can add, plus national television money shared across 30 teams. European clubs have none of that machinery on the same scale. No draft hands the weakest teams the best young players. Domestic leagues still run on promotion and relegation, so a club chasing a EuroLeague title must also survive a national season against opponents with a fraction of its budget. Arenas are the other gap: Panathinaikos and Olympiacos have only now secured 49-year arena deals, while JL Bourg plays in a gym that seats 3,548.

What NBA Europe could change

The NBA’s planned European league could change the scale. It plans 16 teams from 2027, 12 permanent franchises and four qualifiers, with bids sought at $500 million to $1 billion a franchise and more than 20 ownership groups bidding by the 30 June deadline. 

On 5 October, EuroLeague’s shareholder clubs unanimously rejected the NBA’s opening proposal and put their own expansion on hold, though both sides say talks will continue. 

If franchises sell near those prices, a handful of European clubs would have NBA-scale owners for the first time, and the clubs left outside would face a wider gap than they do now.

The gap that matters

Europe has closed the distance at the top of the pay scale far enough that a EuroLeague club can outbid the NBA for a player like Yabusele.  It is nowhere near what surrounds the star: a $205.6 million payroll, a league built to share its revenue, and owners willing to pay the tax. And Philadelphia’s own history says even all of that buys a 50.5-win expectation, with no guarantee attached.

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Only two sides have never been relegated from Ireland’s top flight. On Saturday night, they faced off in the Domino’s Super League yet, as Emmet Ryan writes, the fates of St Vincent’s and Killester look rather different this season.

Considering Ireland’s had a national league for well over 50 years, it’s no small thing that only two sides have never been relegated from its top flight. Yet that’s the status Killester and St Vincent’s hold.

Indeed, only one other side can claim to have even played every season in the national league system. That being UCD Marian. Yet Saturday night in St Vincent’s showed just why one of the two never-relegated teams is staring at making the wrong kind of history this season. It also showed why they might avoid it.

Flirting with disaster

Killester entered this season of the Domino’s Super League having been to the championship game in each of the prior three seasons. They lost on each occasion but their consistency in the post-Covid era has been impressive.

St Vincent’s tell a different story. The three time champions had a 10-12 record last season, making the playoffs for the first time since the league switched to a playoff format. Yet the other seasons post-Covid tell a different story.

In the 2021-22 season they had an abysmal 1-13 record but there was no relegation that season. They managed to avoid the relegation playoff with room to spare the following season before narrow escapes in the subsequent two. Last season was meant to be a correction.

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About that

St Vincent’s entered Saturday night with heavy defeats in both of their opening games and huge concerns around their D. Killester were able to exploit the issues with that in large part throughout the first half. There was simply no cohesion and it was clear that the roster still hadn’t clicked at all.

There were obvious positives. The most notable being Scottie Stone’s scoring. Stone had 39 points, shooting 43/71/92 in a game leading display. He also had 8 rebounds while three other players scored in double digits.

Yet they were outrebound 43-34 and, crucially, gave up 17 offensive rebounds compared to just 7 by Killester. The turnover battle was tight enough (18 for Vincent’s compared to 16 for Killester) but those extra opportunities proved telling as Killester had 63 FGAs to just 59 for the hosts.

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There’s fight in them

Cockroaches, tardigrades, the Pen Place in Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, and St Vincent’s in the Domino’s Super League. These are all things expected to survive a global apocalypse. Even this season, which has started 0-3 and the numbers going against them, is a long way from changing that.

The positive for Vincent’s who lost 91-89 as Killester moved to 3-0, was that this was the first game of the campaign where they had the requisite fight to potentially win. If they could stop getting in their own way, they might actually do that.

Down four with 20 seconds on the clock, the maths were against them but not catastrophically. Wasting 18 of those seconds without putting up a shot did. Eventually they got an inbounds call to fall their way but Stone’s baseline jumper just made the final margin closer. To survive, those moments need to be managed better.

As for the visitors

In a shock to nobody that actually watches the Domino’s Super League, Killester look like they’ll be in the playoffs again this season and prove a tough out to anyone once they get there. Josh Wilson managed to deliver in spite of having trouble finding his rhythm. Stefan Desnica is an excellent signing who delivered what was needed on the night.

Killester won ugly but will surely be irritated that they failed to put the game away early. The visitors looked set to kill it off quickly when they built up a 15 point lead in the second quarter. While St Vincent’s fought gamely, there was a loss of focus that will surely irk Mike Olsson. When you’ve got your foot on your opponent’s neck, you look straight down and stomp.

Still a win is a win and winning ugly can build character. They moved to 3-0 in the standings heading into the double-round week. They travel to Tralee (1-2) before hosting Ballincollig (1-2) in a rematch of last season’s decider.

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European basketball stars are increasingly central to the NBA championship conversation. Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama have established themselves as among the league’s most influential players, while Lauri Markkanen and Franz Wagner continue to demonstrate versatility.

Their situations differ considerably. Some lead established contenders, others face uncertain futures, and several depend on roster improvements to strengthen their championship prospects. As the 2026–27 season develops, these six players could significantly influence how the race for the Larry O’Brien Trophy unfolds across both conferences.

1. Jokić Anchors Denver’s Championship Ambitions

Nikola Jokić remains one of basketball’s most influential offensive players. Three MVP awards, a championship, and a Finals MVP underline his exceptional standing. Yet Denver enters the season facing questions about whether its supporting cast can sustain another championship challenge.

Those concerns are reflected in NBA Finals odds, where Denver’s championship prospects depend on more than Jokić’s individual brilliance. His remarkable consistency provides the foundation, but postseason success requires contributions throughout the rotation.

Jokić controls games through precise passing, intelligent positioning, and efficient scoring. His ability to draw defensive attention creates opportunities for perimeter shooters, while his decision-making makes Denver particularly difficult to contain in half-court.

Jamal Murray’s availability remains especially important. Denver also needs dependable contributions from its supporting players against increasingly competitive Western Conference opponents.
Jokić can influence virtually every possession, but sustained championship contention requires collective execution. Denver’s reliance on its supporting cast highlights a challenge facing another European superstar as he begins a new chapter in Miami.

2. Giannis Brings Championship Experience to Miami

Giannis Antetokounmpo enters the 2026–27 campaign with a new challenge following his blockbuster summer trade from Milwaukee to Miami. The two-time MVP and former NBA champion brings exceptional scoring ability, defensive versatility and championship experience to a Heat team hoping to challenge the Eastern Conference’s strongest contenders.

His partnership with Bam Adebayo could become one of Miami’s greatest strengths. Both players can protect the paint, disrupt opposing offenses and create problems around the basket. Antetokounmpo’s ability to drive through defenses adds another dimension to the Heat’s attack, although the team will need effective perimeter shooting to give him enough room to operate.

For Antetokounmpo, the challenge is adapting his game to a new supporting cast after spending 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Developing an understanding with Adebayo and Miami’s other players will be important, particularly when opponents try to limit his opportunities near the basket.

His arrival has strengthened Miami’s championship ambitions, but individual brilliance won’t be enough to secure another title. Much will depend on how effectively the Heat combine their defensive strengths with a balanced offense.

That challenge mirrors the expectations surrounding another European superstar in Los Angeles.

3. Dončić Chases a Title as Scoring King

Luka Dončić enters his latest Lakers campaign following another remarkable individual season. His 33.5-point average in 2025–26 showed his offensive dominance, while a sixth All-NBA First Team selection reinforced his status among basketball’s elite.

The Slovenian guard combines exceptional court awareness with an extensive scoring repertoire. His ability to manipulate defenders through pick-and-roll situations creates opportunities for both himself and his teammates.

Dončić also excels at controlling tempo. Step-back three-pointers, accurate passing, and calculated changes of pace make him difficult to defend. His playoff experience adds another dimension as Los Angeles works to strengthen its championship credentials.

Beyond the individual performances covered in NBA team analysis, the Lakers’ championship ambitions depend on defensive consistency, interior protection and dependable contributions from supporting players. Improvements in those areas could make Los Angeles more competitive against the Western Conference’s leading teams.

One particularly demanding obstacle comes from San Antonio, where another European talent has already established himself as a championship contender.

4. Wembanyama Has Arrived Among the Elite

Victor Wembanyama enters the 2026–27 season with expectations transformed by San Antonio’s remarkable progress. The French center helped guide the Spurs to the NBA Finals while establishing himself among basketball’s most influential two-way players.

His unanimous Defensive Player of the Year recognition highlighted an extraordinary defensive campaign. Wembanyama’s shot-blocking, mobility, and defensive awareness let San Antonio challenge opponents across the court.

His offensive development has been equally significant. During the Finals, Wembanyama showed greater willingness to attack inside, pairing his perimeter shooting with efficient scoring near the basket. That versatility makes conventional defensive assignments increasingly difficult.

As a result, San Antonio enters the championship discussion with considerable momentum. Wembanyama could also challenge for MVP honors, putting him in rare company among players who have won both MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.

While his development strengthens an established contender, another European forward illustrates how elite individual production can emerge outside the championship picture.

5. Markkanen Embodies a Different European Path

Lauri Markkanen’s situation in Utah is quite different from Wembanyama’s in San Antonio. While the Spurs are challenging for a championship, the Finnish forward has established himself as Utah’s leading offensive contributor, averaging 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds during the 2025–26 season.
His shooting efficiency remains a defining strength. Markkanen shot 47.7% from the field, 35.5% from three, and 89.6% at the line, showing versatility in different scoring situations.

Unlike players who dominate possession, Markkanen frequently creates opportunities through movement and positioning. His height allows him to shoot over smaller defenders, while his perimeter accuracy stretches opposing defenses and creates additional space for teammates.

Utah’s broader competitive position currently limits his championship prospects. Nevertheless, Markkanen’s size, shooting, and offensive adaptability continue to attract attention. Any future roster changes involving the Finnish international could affect another team’s championship ambitions, showing how European talent shapes the league beyond its established contenders.

6. Wagner Could Elevate Orlando’s Championship Prospects

Franz Wagner represents another important European presence in the Eastern Conference. The German forward combines versatile scoring, intelligent movement, and playmaking ability, making him central to Orlando’s ambitions.

Injuries restricted Wagner to 34 appearances last season, disrupting his partnership with Paolo Banchero. His availability will therefore be critical as the Magic pursue a deeper playoff run.
Under new coach Sean Sweeney, Wagner’s ability to create scoring opportunities alongside Banchero and Desmond Bane could help Orlando challenge established contenders more consistently throughout the season.

Europe’s Influence Extends Across the Championship Race

European stars will have a significant role to play in the 2027 NBA championship race. Jokić and Dončić remain central to Denver’s and Los Angeles’ ambitions, while Wembanyama has helped establish San Antonio as a serious contender in the Western Conference.

Antetokounmpo’s move to Miami has strengthened the Heat’s championship prospects and added another dimension to the Eastern Conference race. Meanwhile, Markkanen remains an important player for Utah despite the team’s struggles, and Wagner’s return to fitness could help Orlando make further progress.

All six players bring different strengths to their respective teams, but individual talent alone won’t determine the eventual champion. The quality of their supporting casts, defensive performances and ability to deliver consistently in the playoffs will be just as important when the championship is decided.

The post Can European Superstars Define the 2027 NBA Championship Race? appeared first on BallinEurope.

The Dario Party has arrived at BallinEurope. With Dario Šarić returning to Euroleague, back with Anadolu Efes, it’s our great pleasure to get the unique insights of Leviya Francesca. Welcome to DarioWatch.

Hi, I’m Lev. You may know me better as Lisco_2000 or the Dario Šarić girl. Three years ago, I started a column for Golden State of Mind titled DarioWatch. I wrote about a dozen articles chronicling Dario’s season with the Golden State Warriors before they unceremoniously burned out in the NBA play-in.

In the two and a half years since my last DarioWatch article, Dario had an unsuccessful season with the Denver Nuggets and a miserable stint with the Sacramento Kings before getting cut from the NBA altogether in February of 2026.

Since then, he’s found his way back to the Euroleague with Anadolu Efes, the team he played for between 2014 and 2016 when Sixers fans were waiting for him to come over, and luckily, the kind folks at Ball In Europe have given DarioWatch a new home.

In that same stretch of time since my final original DarioWatch column to today, to put it in perspective, I started grad school and finished grad school. I moved to New York City and moved out of New York City. I’ve lived a thousand lives. It’s been a long time.

What you need to know

Admittedly, I am an NBA-head. This is my first foray into the Euroleague. Here’s what I’ve learned about Efes so far:

MASCOT: Çaylak, a blue “tiger” with eerily human features.

TEAM NAME: Roughly translates to Turkish Beverages.

NBA EQUIVALENT: Maybe last year’s Tatum-less Celtics?

DARIO’S TEAMMATES: Mike James (RIP), Cam Payne, Kai Jones, Bruno Fernando, Eran Osmani, Jordan Loyd, and PJ Dozier, among others.

I’m learning. You’re learning, especially if you’re a Liscohead who’s following me and DarioWatch on this new journey. Dario himself is admittedly still learning, too:

“I definitely need some time to get used to it,” Dario told Meridian Sports in an interview earlier this month. “European basketball has changed a lot compared to my time. Back then, it was more about set plays and half-court basketball. Now the game is much faster, almost like the NBA. The point guards and shooting guards have more initiative in a way. I was expecting a slightly different game, but that’s no problem. I need to adapt as quickly as possible to be able to help the team.”

Has home changed?

Maybe the game is faster now. Maybe Dario is slower post-ACL tear and almost two decades into his professional career. Maybe he’s not that 22-year-old wunderkind with the world in his hands anymore (not even if we blink once, blink twice). Regardless, he’s averaging upwards of 25 minutes per game with Efes, and he seems to be handling his role well. 

There’s been a lot of pressure on Dario since Mike James’ injury. James tore his Achilles towards the end of the game vs KK Crvena Zvezda earlier this month, making Dario the default first option. This is both great and terrifying for me, the Dario Šarić girl, who routinely analyzes how he’s walking in social media clips and goes oh god his knees are about to give out KILL ME NOW. 

The game after James’ injury, versus Olympiacos, Dario put up just one point – a made free throw. He played only 18 minutes that night (Liscoheads, can you believe I’m saying ONLY?!?!?!). Maybe Efes head coach Pablo Laso saw he wasn’t playing well, or maybe he just really needed some rest. We know Dario gets in his head when his two-man partner gets hurt. We’ve seen it over and over again, as I wrote for Golden State of Mind when Chris Paul broke his hand early in 2024. Luckily, this time, it doesn’t seem to be affecting him too badly. He’ll always be streaky, but hopefully that was just a one-time thing where he went emo because his friend got hurt.

A dash of familiarity

The silver lining to James’ injury is that Efes brought in Dario’s longtime teammate and fellow ‘21 Sun Cam Payne, which just might have been the thing to get him back on track. Dario plays best when he knows he can trust his point guard, and who better to have by his side than the guy he has an adorable pregame handshake with? Either the Efes front office knows their Dario lore  or they’ve been following Lisco_2000 and looked to my Dario teammate matrix for inspiration. Either way, this pickup was an incredible decision, and I’m excited to see this duo shine (and I’m excited to see their cute little handshake again).

OH MY GOD FRIENDSHIP WAS SEEN https://t.co/1qT4sXN43i

— lev (@lisco_2000) October 3, 2026

In Dario’s most recent bout, a loss versus Bayern Munich, he put up 21 points in 32 minutes, which is just about as efficient as it gets if your name isn’t Mike James. He played so much that Efes fans across the internet (who I immediately befriended when Dario signed back in June, by the way) were tweeting things that roughly translated to “I think he’s going to die out there” and portraying him as a “tired and weary kebab shop owner.”

dario saric https://t.co/AGISNxmq14

— Potanın Kedisi (@potaninkedisi) October 14, 2026

My own tweet, comparing Dario to Peg, the 30-year Walmart employee who can barely smile, was a smash hit.

dario https://t.co/k9xJSv8i8w

— lev (@lisco_2000) October 14, 2026

“I just know he stormed back to the locker room, threw up, and is now on the team bus mad as hell,” I added after the game.

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A long road

We all know this isn’t sustainable, especially if it only leads to losses. I’ve reassured my newfound friends in the Efes fandom that Dario is actually quite durable and hasn’t run into much injury trouble since his ACL tear in 2021, but they still seem worried, and maybe it’s all just wishful thinking from me.

I still have a lot to learn about the Euroleague. I still don’t understand why Efes plays in two different leagues. I feel like there are so many games but also no games. The Efes mascot kind of freaks me out. I don’t understand how Matthew Strazel plays with that massive unsecured messy bun without getting overstimulated. I have no idea what is going on.

As I did in the NBA almost a decade ago, I guess I’ll learn the ropes with Dario as my guiding star.

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