It’s August. We’re already judging everyone based on their offseason moves.
Since the transfer market is (mostly) done, the time has come, fellows! My –way too early- EuroLeague 2026-2027 power rankings are here and I’m pretty sure that some of the following teams will make me look stupid by early November.
Olympiacos: It’s not that I am Greek, guys! I truly believe the Greek teams are among the best in Europe. I’m putting the reigning champions first because they kept their championship-winning roster almost intact and added even more talent in the backcourt. Rising Star of the Year Jean Montero brings even more quality to an already well-drilled team that has had the same head coach for a seventh consecutive season. I’m also expecting a lot from McIntyre, who is an excellent floor general and knows how to get the best out of his teammates.
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens: Best offseason so far. It all started with the arrival of coach Obradovic, followed by the addition of athleticism and defensive versatility to an already talent-packed roster. The cherry on top was Francisco. This team has every piece needed to go all the way, and the right man to put all those pieces together.
Fenerbahce: Saras has led his teams to the Final Four six years in a row. Even though there have been eleven departures and nine arrivals, I have the feeling the team has actually upgraded. The truth is that many of the players who left—apart from Biberovic and De Colo—didn’t perform at the level expected last season. Fener was solid defensively, but its offense struggled at times. My expectations are once again high for this team.
Dubai BC: I expect Dubai to be one of the strongest teams this season. No more rookie treatment for you. You have a way too expensive roster, filled with experienced players, and one of the best tacticians on the bench. My gut feeling tells me their offseason isn’t finished, yet.
Hapoel Tel Aviv: I have a feeling Micic won’t be as rusty this year after getting plenty of playing time last season, which is crucial for the team. Even though Hapoel didn’t win a single title, I truly believe that there’s some continuity there for a team that managed to get to the playoffs their very first season.
Real Madrid: Ranking Real Madrid this low almost feels illegal, but this is a team entering a new era. Mario Hezonja and Trey Lyles leave behind a huge offensive void, while Pedro Martinez takes over a group that will need time to build a new identity. Of course, veterans like Campazzo, Llull, Tavares and Deck keep the “Queen’s” DNA. Real Madrid will always have enough talent to compete, and history tells us never to doubt them, but on paper I simply trust the five teams above them more. Don’t be surprised if they prove me wrong by April.
Anadolu Efes: This feels like the beginning of a new project rather than the continuation of the old one. Losing Shane Larkin marks the end of an era, but replacing him with Mike James certainly guarantees excitement. Pablo Laso finally gets a full offseason to shape the team, while additions like Dario Saric and Matt Strazel make the roster deeper and more versatile. There are plenty of questions defensively, but few teams possess this much offensive firepower.
Crvena Zvezda: I see plenty of athleticism and a loaded backcourt. I’m also a big fan of the signing of Ibon Navarro. I think we’ll see a different version of Zvezda with him on the bench. I see this team making the playoffs!
Zalgiris: If Jonas Valanciunas stays healthy, everything changes for Zalgiris. Few teams in Europe can match his impact in the paint, and his arrival immediately raises both the floor and the ceiling of this team. The rebuilt backcourt still has to prove itself, but coach Masiulis may find ways to maximize his roster, like he did last year. Zalgiris may not have the deepest squad in the league, but they should be one of the toughest opponents to face.
Milano: I feel like I already know what we’re about to get from Milano. Even though they made some great additions, like Alec Peters and Moses Wright, they also lost some key players. I’d like to see a few more defense-oriented players on this roster. Will I?
Valencia: The biggest surprise of last season has become the league’s go-to team for… shopping! They lost their superstar Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Jaime Pradilla, Braxton Key, Sergio De Larrea, Matt Costello and even the architect of their success, Pedro Martinez. However, they were far from quiet this offseason. They managed to sign TJ Shorts and Armoni Brooks, two players capable of contributing to a Final Four contender. Not bad!
Maccabi: There’s some continuity there. Of course, Lonnie Walker left and took his offensive talent with him, but I think coach Kattash will be just fine with the roster he’s built so far.
Barcelona: This might be my hottest take. Barcelona still has talent, but they also lost a tremendous amount of experience and leadership. A new coaching staff, a new hierarchy and several players looking for bigger roles make this one of the hardest teams to project. The ceiling may be higher than 13th, but I need to see it before I believe it.
Besiktas: Besiktas deserves respect after last season, yet this roster still lacks proven EuroLeague stars. Dusan Alimpijevic has repeatedly shown he can elevate players beyond expectations, so I wouldn’t completely rule them out. Still, compared to the teams above them, the overall talent level simply isn’t there.
Bayern: New coach, good additions like Duane Washington Jr. and Austin Wiley, and a healthy Rokas Jokubaitis. I’d say: not bad, not great. I want to see some fresh ideas in this new era. As things stand, Bayern doesn’t have enough offensive creation to convince me they’ll seriously compete for a Play-In spot.
Paris: They managed to keep Nadir Hifi, which is huge, and Jared Rhoden, much to my surprise. I still see Paris keeping its fast-paced identity, but I don’t think they have the depth needed to reach the playoffs.
Baskonia: Baskonia simply hasn’t done enough to convince me they’ll climb the standings. The two signings I like the most are Chris Duarte and Lawson, both of whom should help this team immediately. I think there’s still room for a few more additions, but I don’t expect a blockbuster signing.
Virtus Bologna: Virtus looks like a team stuck between trying to compete today and preparing for tomorrow. There are interesting pieces on the roster, but not enough elite talent to keep up with the league’s best. Unless someone unexpectedly breaks out, I see another difficult season ahead. What I do see is several teams knocking on Virtus’s door next summer to sign some of their players.
Partizan: After everything that happened last season, I expected Partizan to bounce back this offseason and make a few statement signings. Kyle Allman, who will get the chance to prove himself, and Lamar Stevens are the additions that stand out. Come on, Partizan—I was expecting something bigger for such a passionate fanbase!
ASVEL: A month ago, ASVEL looked like a team ready to take a significant step forward. Since then, the picture has changed dramatically. Too many departures, too many unanswered questions and not enough proven quality. I hope I’m wrong because the league is better when ASVEL is competitive, but right now they look like my pick to finish last.