BCL – meet the 32 Teams that are taking part in the 2023-24 Basketball Champions League!
- → BCL to start on October 17.
- → Telekom Baskets Bonn looking to maintain their title.
- → 32 teams from 16 countries face in the regular season.
- → All BCL games available to stream LIVE on Courtside 1891*.
The BCL is back on October 17th with Gameday 1, with first tip off from Riga at 17:00 Local Time with the game between VEF Riga and Darüşşafaka Lassa ready to kick things off at the Arena Riga.
Below, read about the 32 teams that are taking part in the 23-24 edition of the BCL and are looking to overtake current holders Telekom Baskets Bonn.
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BCL Group A Team Presentations
Unicaja Malaga Team Presentation
Unicaja Malaga looked set to take the BCL home, in front of their fans as the 2023 BCL Final Four in Malaga saw them host underdogs Telekom Baskets Bonn. The Germans spoiled the fun, though, and went on to celebrate a surprise BCL title.
Malaga retained most of their core, able to win a Copa del Rey and a BCL fourth place, during the offseason. However, they lost Basque Dario Brizuela to Barcelona. The shooting guard left after averaging 12.4 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in the BCL. Kameron Taylor was brought in to replace Brizuela, coming from Girona, in a quiet offseason.
Unicaja will look to improve on their performance last season, although a slow start in the Liga Endesa means the team has still to find their feet. Rim protection and defensive rebounding were Malaga’s strong suit last season, as well as a great offense. Integrating Taylor and building on Kendrick Perry will be key for the Andalusians to go far in the BCL.
Relive last year's third-place final between Unicaja and Lenovo Tenerife
Peristeri Bwin Team Presentation
Vasilis Spanoulis’ Peristeri bwin was knocked out of BCL contention during the play-ins, as they failed to qualify for the Round of 16 with a defeat at Dijon. Peristeri got busy during the offseason, adding Nate Renfro, Jaylen Hands, Joe Ragland, Jenny Williams, Elijah Mitrou-Long, Trevor Thompson and Nemanja Dangubic.
Spanoulis will be hoping these additions are going to take Peristeri bwin to the Round of 16, although the loss of GBL top scorer Marcus Denmon will be hard to overcome. Joe Ragland is ready to take the reins of the Peristeri offense, as they try to get past the Round of 16.
Le Mans Sarthe Basket team presentation
Le Mans come back to the BCL after their appearance in 2018-19, when they reached Round of 16. The French outfit performed a squad rebuild, signing BCL veteran Wilfried Yeguete (four seasons, 9 rebounds per game) from Limoges.
The big man is part of an exclusive club of players with 300 rebounds under their names in the BCL. Other pickups include DeVante Jones from Levallois, Matt Lewis from the G League and D’Shawn Schwartz from Fenerbahce 2. Coach Eric Delord will try to keep the Antarès Arena a fortress, as the French have won 10 out of their 14 BCL Games in front of their home fans.
Falco Vulcano Szombathely Team Presentation
The Hungarian side is about to embark on their fifth-consecutive BCL appearance, as they take part in Group A as clear underdogs. Fourth in last season’s Group A, Konakov’s men count on Zoltan Perl’s impact off the bench. New signings Marcell Pongo and Szilard Benke, paired with Matt Tiby’s solidity in the power forward position to fuel their upset hopes in the 2023-24 BCL.
BCL Group B Team Presentations
BK Opava Team Presentation
BK Opava qualified for the Basketball Champions League after their first participation in 2018-19, when they finished bottom in Group B, managing two wins in 14 games.
Czudek’s men will field another team full of Czech nationals, mostly retaining the team that won the Czech NBL last season and adding Simon Pursl from Brno. Let’s see if BK Opava are able to fare better than their previous participation in the 2023-24 BCL.
JDA Dijon Bourgogne Team Presentation
After finishing fourth in the Pro A, Dijon got upset by JL Bourg. This year, the French side will take part in their sixth consecutive BCL, with Holston and teammates looking to make a deep run in the competition. So far, their best result was a bronze in 2020, and Coach Markovic is looking forward to that and more in the 2023-24 edition.
New additions include Cameron Hunt, signed to replace Matt Mobley, as well as Aleksandar Lazic. 37 years-old Holston will look to build on his impressive BCL tally, and many of the French side’s hopes of progressing are in his hand Hunt’s hands. Markovic will expect contributions from Hrovat to improve as the Slovenian reaches his prime if JDA wants to do to better than last season’s Round of 16.
Promitheas Patras Team Presentation
The Greek side are back after their 2018/19 BCL Campaign, when they reached the Round of 16, before being eliminated by future finalists Iberostar Tenerife. Papatheodorou’s men arrive from the EuroCup with a fifth place in the GBL and 2-1 quarterfinals exit vs PAOK. Promitheas comes off a true revolution, with their entire starting lineup made of fresh faces.
The Greek side picked Arturs Kurucs from Baskonia, Cameron Reynolds from EuroCup side Buducnost, Hunter Hale from the United States, Chris Coffey, and Antonis Koniaris from AEK Athens. Coach Papatheodorou has the task of gelling this group of talented players together, hoping to come back to the BCL with a bang.
Rytas Vilnius Team Presentation
Rytas Vilnius will take part in their fourth consecutive BCL campaign, after going head-to-head with Bonn and Manresa in the round of 16 in last year’s edition. Vilnius' offense was one of the most explosive in the competition, and Zibenas’ men are looking to build up on a competitive showing in 2023.
Rytas picked up guard R.J. Cole from Braunschweig and Keith Hornsby from Nanterre, experienced shooting guard with experience in the 19-20 BCL where he excelled with 16 points per game. The Lithuanians parted ways with Marcus Foster and Kendale McCullum but look ready for a strong BCL campaign.
BCL Group C Team Presentations
Darüssafaka Lassa Team Presentation
The Turkish outfit is back in the BCL for their fourth campaign. After coming sixth in the BSL, the Istanbul team had a busy offseason to give their starting lineup a fresh facelift. Kyle Allman Jr, Abdur-Rakhman, and Point Guard Ridvan Oncel all signed for the team, and small forward Janis Timma was picked to round off a competitive starting lineup.
The team lost Ozdemiroglu to Anadolu Efes, and added Yakup Sekizkök as head coach. Darüssafaka are hoping to get past the Round of 16 in the BCL for the first time.
Lenovo Tenerife Team Presentation
With two BCL trophies in their cabinet, Lenovo Tenerife are the most decorated team in the BCL. Last year, the Canarians finished third, having suffered semi-final defeat against Hapoel Jerusalem and coming on top vs home team Unicaja Malaga in an all-Spanish affair for the bronze medal.
Txus Vidorreta will have most of his bronze medal winning team once again, with the re-signing of Elgin Cook, the return of Alex Lopez, and the solid addition of Serbian international Dusan Ristic from Galatasaray. Tenerife’s roster is one of the most complete, and the Canarian side looks to make it three in 2024 to celebrate Marcelino Huertas’ 40th birthday.
Relive Lenovo Tenerife's 2022 triumph in Bilbao with the video above
VEF Riga Team Presentation
VEF Riga will take part in their fifth consecutive time, making playoffs (or play-ins) on two occasions. VEF welcomed Isaiah Pineiro back after his successful season in the 2020-21 edition, but the major move pulled by the Latvians is a reunion with Latvian national team captain Dairis Bertans, who penned a two-year deal during the summer.
The veteran comes back after 10 years since his departures, and joins Brendan Adams, Roberts Blums, Rodrigo Bumeisters, Aaron Jones, Arnaldo Toro, Marcis Vitols, and big man Alexander Madsen in the arrivals lounge. Nysier Brooks (last year’s Finals MVP in the Latvian league) is the only notable departure for a VEF Riga team that looks ready to surprise in this year’s BCL, in one of this edition’s most competitive groups.
Cholet Basket Team Presentation
Cholet basket is back in the BCL after making their first appearance in 2020/21. The French side, qualified at the expense of Italian side Brindisi, signed Vojtech Hruban from London Lions. The small forward could be the first player to reach 1000 points scored in the BCL if he scores four in the season debut.
Other additions include the return of Gerry Blakes and the Signing of Jalen Jones from Hapoel Shoval Haifa. Cholet will hope to make it to play-ins but find themselves in one of the toughest groups.
Group D Team Presentations
AEK Athens B.C. Team Presentation
2019-20 runners-up AEK Athens are back after a season that saw them get all the way to the GBL final four and BCL quarterfinals. The team coached by Joan Plaza had a busy summer, with the marquee signing shooting guard Ben McLemore coming from the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin (after over 600 NBA games), point guard Langston Hall, former NBA center Kabengele, guard Chasson Randle, and Jordan McRae, among others.
The Greek team will have to play all their BCL games with a partial closure of 80% of their arena, following the incidents in their game 2 vs Hapoel Jerusalem in the quarter finals.
Banco di Sardegna Sassari Team Presentation
Fourth-time participants Dinamo Sassari, eliminated during last year’s regular season, added to their already solid team to take them to the next level. The Sardinians added offense with Breein Tyree from Filou Oostende, Vassilis Charalampopoulos, and NBA journeyman Alfonzo McKinney.
Equally important was Ousmane Diop’s decision to stay in Sardinia for an additional season. Dinamo Sassari look ready to battle with the Group D heavyweights to reach the Round of 16.
King Szczecin Team Presentation
Polish champions King Szczecin are the 8th team to represent Poland in the BCL, and retained most of their championship-winning team, adding a few players on top of their already solid base.
Tony Meyer extended his contract until 2025, while Avery Woodson comes as a backup for Andrzej Mazurczak. Jhonathan Dunn joined the Polish Outfit, as the American point-guard will face his old team in Ludwigsburg, having 10 games of BCL in his CV. King Szczecin are the underdogs in Group D.
MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg Team Presentation
With one bronze medal in their cabinets, MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg come back for their 6th BCL participation, after being eliminated in play-ins in 2023. Many fresh faces in this Ludwigsburg team, including former Kansas player Silas Melson, Ben Vander Plas, Jaren Lewis, Aeneas Jung, and Elijah Childs. Jayvon Graves and Desure Buie, from Kocaeli and Limoges, round up their lineup.
Ludwigsburg’s team will need to gel after a slow start in the league if they want to have a chance to come on top in an extremely competitive group D.
BCL Group E Team Presentations
EWE Baskets Oldenburg Team Presentation
Oldenburg is back to the BCL after a disappointing 2021-22 participation that saw the German outfit lose 5 of their six games. Pedro Calles’ team underwent a true revolution in the summer after finishing runners-up in the Bundesliga, signing Lucas Wank, Brekkott Chapman, Gasper Kocevar, and Len Schoormann ahead of the 23-24 season.
BCL winner Deane Williams was also signed from Bonn, with the Bristol-native bringing intensity and athleticism to the German outfit that looks to top Group E.
Filou Oostende Team Presentation
The Belgian Champions make their fourth BCL appearance, their best result being a Round of 16 qualification in 19-20, before being eliminated by Iberostar Tenerife in three games. Adding RJ Nembhard, Ilimane Diop (seen in the BCL with UCAM Murcia), as well as Matthias Tass and Sam Van Rossom from Valencia. Some quality pickups for the Belgian outfit, that look to go back to the Round of 16 three years later.
Pinar Karsiyaka
Turkish runners-up join Group E after two consecutive play-ins eliminations in the BCL. Karsikaya came close as they were runners-up in 2020-21 after losing to San Pablo Burgos in a low-scoring affair. To improve their presence in the paint, Pinar Karsikaya picked up NBA big man Vernon Carey Jr, formerly a Charlotte Hornet and Washington Wizard.
Darrun Hilliard also signed a one-year deal from Maccabi Tel Aviv, and center Furkan Haltali from Anadolu Efes Istanbul. The Izmir outfit want to translate domestic success with another strong BCL run.
SIG Strasbourg
Sig Strasbourg punched their ticket to the BCL as one of the latest teams to qualify by defeating Obradoiro behind Quinton Hooker’s 18 points and Phil Booth’s 17. Leo Cavaliere scored 11 and added 6 boards to qualify Strasbourg for Group E of the BCL. Strasbourg was busy in the transfer market, adding small forward Invernizzi, Quinton Hooker from Bnei Herzliya (Israel), Booth, and Dan Akin from Utah State.
The French side will have to rebuild after parting ways with Luca Banchi, after the Italian coach joined Virtus Bologna following an incredible FIBA World Cup run with Latvia. The French team, at their eight-consecutive BCL participation, has two consecutive quarter finals results, after a 4th place in 2020-21.
BCL Group F Team Presentations
Bursaspor İnfo Yatırım Team Presentation
Bursaspor is Turkey’s fifth seed and comes from three EuroCup participations to make their BCL debut. The Turkish side made a flurry of signings, including guard Jordan Floyd, forward Michael Young, the return of small forward Anthony Brown and Johnny Hamilton.
They rounded up the roster with BCL-ready Semih Erden, a 37-year-old big man from Turk Telecom. Bursaspor kept Atalan, Ozalp, Taskiran, and Al as they look to adapt to BCL level.
Hapoel Holon Team Presentation
Hapoel Holon won their play-ins and got to the Round of 16 before being knocked out, following 1 win in 6 games in Group I. The Israeli team, with a fourth place as their previous best result, signed Amine Noua from Asvel and Justin Smith from the G League. Other signings include guard Ahmad Caver, Andrew Crawford from Trento, and Yotam Hanochi from Kiryat Ata.
Holon had to let Ragland go, but secured Shawn Dawson’s contract renewal. Ragland’s shoes are tough to fill, and Hapoel Atsmon Holon has a tough task ahead if they want to improve on their Round of 16 exit from 2022-23.
Rio Breogan Team Presentation
The 10th Spanish team to make the BCL, Rio Breogan secured qualification after stopping in the qualifying rounds in 2022-23. The Galician outfit had a busy summer, recruiting Italian international Diouf, Juan Fernandez, Conner Frankamp to replace Zan Mark Sisko, Anthony Polite, Matej Rudan, and Matas Jogela. Veljko Mrsic’s team extended the contracts of guards Sergi Garcia and the Quintela brothers.
The Lugo-based team still have to find their feet in the Liga Endesa, and hope midweek action in the BCL will help their fresh team gel to find success domestically and continentally.
Telekom Baskets Bonn – Lineup and How to watch in the BCL
Current champions Telekom Baskets Bonn, placed in Group F alongside Bursaspor, Hapoel Holon, and Rio Breogan and looking at a difficult BCL repeat. The Baskets have lost Regular Season and Final Four MVP TJ Shorts, alongside seven teammates and head coach Tuomas Iisalo, all joining EuroCup team Paris FC, in an unprecedented exodus of players to the French capital.
The complete restructure sees Bonn line up with Watson Jr from Nebraska and Harald Frey in the backcourt, and Christian Sengfelder, Canadian Noah Kirkwood and Till Pape to complete the starting lineup. The baskets have had a slow start as they adapt to life under head coach Roel Moors.
BCL Group G Team Presentations
Galatasaray Ekmas Team Presentation
The 5-time Turkish Super League champions lace up for their fourth consecutive BCL participation, where they have never managed to get past the Round of 16.
Zvezdan Mitrovic, highly impressive at Monaco, signed as a head coach, bringing several players to the Lions, including Yeboah and Halilovic, and building with EuroLeague veterans in Radebaugh, Jarrell Martin, and Corey Walden. Mitrovic believes in building a core and a system though, and if all things go well, Galatasaray are expected to have a much quieter offseason in 2024.
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem
Punching their fifth BCL ticket, runners-up Hapoel Jerusalem want to take the final step in this year’s edition. Only losing Cline and Levy, Dzikic’s team had a busy summer, adding Chris Johnson from BCL team Hapoel Holon, Zoosman from ALBA, former Real Madrid big man Maurice Ndour.
The important confirmations of Khadeen Carrington and head coach Dzikic give the Hapoel project continuity and hope they can once again go all the way to the final, hoping, this time, for a different outcome.
PAOK Mateco Team Presentation
Coming to their 6th participation, Greek giants PAOK will aim at getting past the Round of 16 for the first time in their BCL history. Having lost in the quarterfinals of the GBL to BCL team Peristeri, the Thessalonians went through an eventful offseason, opening their doors to nine fresh faces.
They signed NBA journeyman point guard Andrew Harrison, as well as big man Jamini McNeace from Yalovaspor. PAOK will have to contend with the departures of Jaylen Hands and Nate Renfro, who packed their bags to join Peristeri. PAOK will have to answer questions about their roster this year, but the potential is there for a good season, although Coach Fotis Takianos will have to make a very fresh team gel and replace leader Jaylen Hands.
SL Benfica Team Presentation
Benfica had a surprising run after they cruised past the regular season in the 22-23 BCL, scoring 4-2 and surrendering to Darüssafaka Lassa in the play-in. They liked their taste of the BCL and managed to secure a spot through the qualifying rounds in 2023-24. Benfica retained most of the core of last season’s squad, including veteran Toney Douglas.
This year, they are in a tough group, hence repeating last season’s performance is more difficult. On their side a well-oiled system, with most of last year’s squad confirmed, and SG Drechshel from Oldenburg in the arrivals lounge and already vital in the qualification rounds. Norberto Alves is ready with yet another challenge to grow Portugues basketball in the BCL.
BCL Group H Team Presentations
Bertram Derthona Tortona Team Presentation
The Piedmont-based team from Tortona, an exceptional story in Italian basketball: the team, climbing up through the minors, reaching Serie A1 in 2020-21, beating neighbors Torino in the A2 playoffs. Tortona then secured a historical 3rd place in 22-23, missing out on the Finals after the 3-0 administered them by Virtus Bologna.
The Italians had a busy during the offseason, adding PG Chris Dowe from Sassari, BCL veteran TaShawn Thomas from Perth, Kyle Weems from Virtus Bologna, among others. They confirmed Italy basketball forward Luca Severini and added internationals from Serie A, getting ready to embark on yet another historical day for the Italians.
Igokea m:tel Team Presentation
The Bosnians will take part in their fourth consecutive BCL campaign, with only Marko Josilo having played the teams’ entire 29 BCL games. The team added many players in the offseason, with the hope of bettering their result last year, just one win short of progression to play-ins. Nikolic came from ESSM Le Portel, while familiar faces Edin Atic and Jackie Carmichael returned to Aleksandrovac.
Igokea also signed point guard Stefan Moody and rounded the roster with guard/forward Jeremic, Gordic, and Boskovic. Vladimir Jovanvic will be hoping the gelling of a revamped Igokea does not take long, as a few former players returned in pursuit of BCL Basketball.
Tofas Bursa Team Presentation
Tofas Bursa’s continued BCL progress was interrupted in the play-ins last year when AEK administered the Turkish side a 2-0 sweep to get access to the Round of 16. Tofas came extremely close and lost both games by a 3-point margin.
Coach Ene and the front office decided to shuffle things around in the offseason, adding big man Austin Wiley, and former NBA point-guard Cassius Winston from Bayern Munich. With an EuroLeague level playmaker, the Turkish outfit added NCAA Champion Luke Maye, Caleb Homesley from Saint Petersburg, and picked up Omar Prewitt, solid forward from Aliağa Petkimspor. Tofas upgraded their roster and look like one of the main forces to be reckoned with in Group H.
UCAM Murcia Team Presentation
At their fifth participation, UCAM have a third-place finish in their cabinet. Last year they could not overcome Unicaja Malaga in the quarterfinals and are approaching this BCL season with a freshly revamped roster.
Starting in the backcourt, Ludvig Hakanson looks like a solid pickup, as the point guard was snatched from domestic rivals Bilbao. Sant-Roos, Dylan Ennis and Troy Caupain (confirmed). Rodion Kurucs was added in the forward position, fresh with BCL experience in Strasbourg, where he averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 boards in the BCL. The Spanish side looks refreshed in the paint as well, with Dustin Sleva and Radovic sharing the spotlight, whilst Birgander complete the all-Swedish PG-center duo with Hakanson. Murcia’s starting lineup and depth look extremely good in a stacked Group H.
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