ITG league and club ranking

The ITG league and club ranking is similar to the UEFA five year ranking. It ranks countries and clubs according to results in Euroleague and EuroCup in the last three years [the UEFA ranking, as the name says, takes into account results from the last five years]. The league coefficient is based on the club coefficient. In UEFA, Champions League and Euro League [not to be confused with Euroleague] starting spots are assigned according to the league coefficient. The club coefficient assigns clubs to draw pots in the group stages draw.

I. League coefficient
II. Club coefficient
III. Manual league ranking

I. League coefficient: The league coefficient is based on the following formula: (wins [by all teams from that country] + bonus points [same condition]) / number of teams that participated in continental competitions. Bonus points are the following: 1 point for reaching the quarter finals in either of the two competitions; 1 point for reaching the semifinals; 1 point for reaching the finals; 3 points for participating in the Euroleague; 1 point for winning the EuroCup; Two points for winning the Euroleague; For example last season’s Euroleague champion Panathinaikos gained 8 bonus points – 3 for playing in the Euroleague, 1 for reaching the quarter finals, 1 for reaching the semifinals, 1 for reaching the finals, and 2 for winning the title.

The league coefficient’s weakness is: It is a per team statistic. For example, if Maccabi Tel Aviv is the only team from Israel, and they do well, Israel’s league coefficient will determined solely by Maccabi’s results. If another league has seven participants, four of which are elite class, one is middle class, and two don’t produce results, the league coefficient will suffer because of that. The UEFA system has a way of self-regulating since it assigns the starting spots according to the ranking [meaning that a league which has only one team - an elite team - in the continental competitions, would be assigned more slots the following year, which - if those teams don't produce results - cause the league coefficient to decrease.

Last update: 21 April 2010 (after EuroCup Final Four, before Euroleague Final Four)

# COUNTRY 07/08 08/09 09/10 07-10
1 Spain 16,25 12,75 14,50 43,50
2 Russia 14,00 14,00 7,83 35,83
3 Greece 10,60 10,50 12,60 33,70
4 Israel 11,00 6,50 12,00 29,50
5 Lithuania 10,67 10,00 5,30 25,97
6 Italy 9,17 9,17 6,50 24,83
7 Serbia 8,40 7,50 8,30 24,20
8 Turkey 11,80 6,25 4,80 22,85
9 Croatia 7,50 9,00 5,00 21,50
10 Slovenia 7,00 5,00 4,00 16,00
11 Ukraine 8,50 5,00 2,00 15,50
12 Czech Republic 5,00 2,00 8,00 15,00
13 Poland 4,25 4,00 6,50 14,75
14 Germany 4,17 3,67 6,25 14,08
15 Belgium 4,67 8,00 0,00 12,67
16 France 4,57 2,80 4,40 11,77
17 Bulgaria 8,00 1,00 0,00 9,00
18 Latvia 4,50 2,00 0,00 6,50
19 Bosnia 5,00 0,00 0,00 5,00
20 Austria 5,00 0,00 0,00 5,00
21 Romania 4,00 0,00 0,00 4,00
22 Switzerland 3,00 0,00 0,00 3,00
23 Estonia 3,00 0,00 0,00 3,00
24 Netherlands 2,50 0,00 0,00 2,50

II. The club coefficient: This coefficient for is based on the following formula: wins + bonus points + 1/3 of the team's country coefficient in that season. Bonus points have been explained above. The club ranking, while not free of flaws, is in my opinion a lot more accurate than the league ranking.

# CLUB 07/08 08/09 09/10 07-10
1 CSKA Moscow 32,667 26,667 23,611 82,945
2 Regal FC Barcelona 22,417 27,250 27,833 77,500
3 Caja Laboral 26,417 22,250 19,833 68,500
4 Panathinaikos 21,533 28,500 17,200 67,233
5 Olympiacos 19,533 22,500 25,200 67,233
6 Real Madrid 22,417 20,250 20,833 63,500
7 Montepaschi Siena 25,056 20,056 16,167 61,279
8 Maccabi Tel Aviv 27,667 13,167 19,000 59,834
9 Unicaja Malaga 21,417 17,250 16,833 55,500
10 Power Electr. Valencia 16,417 15,250 22,833 54,500
11 Partizan Belgrade 18,800 15,500 18,778 53,078
12 DKV Joventut 26,417 11,250 12,833 50,500
13 BC Khimki 14,667 18,667 14,611 47,945
14 Lietuvos Rytas 19,556 18,333 8,778 46,667
15 Bilbao Basket 5,417 16,250 18,833 40,500
16 Dynamo Moscow 19,667 15,667 2,611 37,945
17 Unics Kazan 12,667 13,667 10,611 36,945
18 Fenerbahce Ulker 16,933 12,083 7,600 36,616
19 Gran Canaria 15,417 6,250 14,833 36,500
20 Lottomatica Roma 14,056 13,056 9,167 36,279
21 Efes Pilsen 15,933 9,083 10,600 35,616
22 Aris BC 15,533 6,500 13,200 35,233
23 Zalgiris Kaunas 15,556 8,333 9,778 33,667
24 Benetton Treviso 10,056 13,056 8,167 31,279
25 Cibona Zagreb 9,500 13,000 8,667 31,167
26 Asseco Prokom 9,250 7,333 14,167 30,750
27 AJ Milano 9,056 13,056 8,167 30,279
28 Crvena Zvezda 10,800 8,500 10,778 30,078
29 ALBA Berlin 5,389 8,222 16,083 29,694
30 Turk Telekom 13,933 7,083 6,600 27,616
31 Panellinios BC 4,533 7,500 15,200 27,233
32 Maroussi BC 3,533 9,500 13,200 26,233
33 KK Zadar 10,500 11,000 4,667 26,167
34 KK Hemofarm 9,800 12,500 3,778 26,078
35 Hapoel Jerusalem 9,667 2,167 13,000 24,834
36 Triumph Moscow 13,667 4,667 5,611 23,945
37 Besiktas Cola Turka 15,933 5,083 2,600 23,616
38 Panionios BC 9,533 9,500 4,200 23,233
39 Galatarasay 15,933 2,083 4,600 22,616
40 Union Olimpija 9,333 6,667 5,333 21,333
41 CEZ Nymburk 6,667 2,667 10,667 20,001
42 Turow Zgorzelec 13,250 3,333 3,167 19,750
43 Azovmash Mariupol 9,833 6,667 2,667 19,167
44 Le Mans 6,524 5,933 6,467 18,924
45 ASVEL Villeurbanne 7,524 3,933 7,467 18,924
46 Spirou Charleroi 5,556 10,667 0,000 16,223
47 SLUC Nancy 5,524 5,933 4,467 15,924
48 Artland Dragons 8,389 5,222 2,083 15,694
49 Brose Baskets 6,389 1,222 8,083 15,694
50 BC Kyiv 12,833 1,667 0,667 15,167
51 St.Petersburg 4,667 4,667 5,611 14,945
52 Air Avellino 3,056 9,056 2,167 14,279
53 KK Buducnost 10,800 0,000 2,778 13,578
54 Virtus Bologna 8,056 3,056 2,167 13,279
55 Galil Elyon 6,667 2,167 4,000 12,834
56 BC Siauliai 7,556 3,333 1,778 12,667
57 Angelico Biella 3,056 3,056 6,167 12,279
58 BC FMP Zeleznik 5,800 3,500 2,800 12,100
59 Lukoil Academic 10,667 1,333 0,000 12,000
60 Chorale Roanne 8,524 1,933 1,467 11,924
61 Bnei Hasharon 3,667 4,167 4,000 11,834
62 AEK Athens 3,533 3,500 4,200 11,233
63 Slask Wroclaw 7,250 1,333 2,167 10,750
64 Teramo Basket 3,056 3,056 4,167 10,279
65 BC Oostende 7,556 2,667 0,000 10,223
66 Anwil Wloclawek 6,250 1,333 2,167 9,750
67 Elan Chalon 6,524 0,933 1,467 8,924
68 Entente Orléanaise 1,524 0,933 6,467 8,924
69 Oldenburg 1,388 1,222 6,083 8,693
70 Antwerp Giants 5,556 2,667 0,000 8,223
71 BK Ventspils 7,500 0,667 0,000 8,167
72 ASK Riga 4,500 3,667 0,000 8,167
73 ENBW Ludwigsburg 4,389 1,222 2,083 7,694
74 Strasbourg 4,524 0,933 1,467 6,924
75 Cholet 1,524 0,933 4,467 6,924
76 KK Bosna 6,667 0,000 0,000 6,667
77 Swans Gmunden 6,667 0,000 0,000 6,667
78 Pau-Orthez 3,524 0,933 1,467 5,924
79 Telekom Baskets 1,388 1,222 3,083 5,693
80 CSU Asesoft 5,333 0,000 0,000 5,333
81 Dexia Mons 1,556 2,667 0,000 4,223
82 Fribourg 4,000 0,000 0,000 4,000
83 BC Kalev 4,000 0,000 0,000 4,000
84 EiffelTowers 3,833 0,000 0,000 3,833
85 Hanzevast Cap 2,833 0,000 0,000 2,833
86 Barons Riga 1,667 0,667 0,000 2,334

III. Manual league ranking
It is difficult to rank the many European leagues. I tried to find a bit of orientation in the results in continental competitions, but most of my ranking still relies on a subjective analysis of level of play and level of talent. This ranking is meant to be a ranking of current [November 2009] league strength, even if past results are mentioned in order to provide an overview.

The top 30 teams category marked with an “ * “ bases on the club coefficient I presented in the above list. The club coefficient is a value attributed to each club based on past results in continental competition, plus a small influence of the league coefficient.

[1] ACB, Spain

Overview: A league that has been dominated by the big four – Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Caja Laboral [former TAU], Unicaja – , but it looks like a two-horse-race these days. Unfortunately, four Euroleague A-licences have been awarded to those four, while one of the other Spanish teams will have to either win the EuroCup or finish at least third in the playoffs to have the chance on a Euroleague B-licence spot for one season. That certainly doesn’t help decentralising the competition.

Having written that, ACB is the league with the highest levelled balance between quality and quantity among all European leagues. Considerably high budgets all the way down to the relegation zone, two Euroleague Final Four contenders in Regal FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

European successes: Second-level Spanish clubs like Girona and Joventut managed to win the former ULEB/current Euro-Cup in the near past. However, an ACB team has not won the Euroleague since Barcelona won the trophy on homecourt in the Dejan Bodiroga, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Juan Carlos Navarro days.

Euro top 30 teams*: [8] Caja Laboral, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Unicaja Malaga, Joventut Badalona, Valencia Basket, Kalise Gran Canaria, Bilbao Basket

Pace: One of the fastest leagues on the continent. This statement has been backed by numbers and approved by Ettore Messina himself recently.

Regulations: Minimum of four Spanish players on a 11-man-gamesheet, minimum of five on a 12-man-gamesheet; maximum of two non-Europeans;

Attendances: 6988.12 spectators per game in 08/09.

Notes: League urges its foreign players and coaches to quickly learn Spanish. Most timeouts are held in Spanish, with – if needed – a translator for new acquisitions that do not possess the Spanish language.

[2/3] A1, Greece

Overview: Greece or Italy, it is the old quality versus quantity debate. Greece has two European elite teams, and a group of decent, but not particularly successful teams in the second row. That might change once Aris Thessaloniki rises to play up to its potential again, but at the moment, there is no third Greek team that could make it to Euroleague Top16 on a regular basis. Italy has two of those, one potential Euroleague Final Four team, as well as a deeper league with a lot of American talent.

European successes: Two Euroleague titles for Panathinaikos in the last three seasons. Euroleague Final Four appearance for Olympiacos in 08/09. Aris made the EuroCup final in 2006 and should be able to get back on this level in the mid-future.

Euro top 30 teams*: [3] Panathinaikos Athens, Olympiacos Piraeus, Aris Thessaloniki

Pace: Halfcourt play dominates this league. Not a great place to get eye-catching statistics. Brutally physical at times, widely considered the most physical league in Europe.

Regulations: Minimum of six Greeks on the 12-man-gamesheet, maximum of six foreigners, maximum of three non-Europeans;

Attendances: Low. A league with eight and sometimes even more teams from one city. Plus, many games are televised. Arena standard is comparably low. All stats that are published should be taken with a grain of salt, since they don’t include season ticket holders in Greece.

Notes: Lower half of the league is notorious for salary delays. Players’ Union site publishes lists of who is paying [on schedule] and who is not.

[2/3] Lega A, Italy

Overview: Once considered a very competitive league. Actually it still is, at least on 2 to 16. Number one spot goes to Montepaschi, who stormed through the 08/09 domestic season while losing only a single game, including domestic cup and playoffs. Milano has been rumoured to have big plans, and basketball city Bologna is waiting for its revival. But that can take time …

Two Euroleague Top16-calibre teams in Lottomatica Roma and Armani Jeans Milano.

European successes: Must have been a long time ago. Montepaschi reached the Euroleague Final Four in 07/08.

Euro top 30 teams*: [3] Montepaschi Siena, Lottomatica Roma, Benetton Treviso

Pace: A fast league dominated by American talent.

Regulations: Maximum of three non-Europeans; Maximum of six foreigners, plus two naturalised players that own an Italian passport;

Attendances: 3862.13 per game, second in Europe last season.

Notes: Big name signings even on newly promoted teams. But does that really reflect quality of play?

[4] Adriatic League, Balkan Region

Overview: Adriatic League is undoubtedly one of the most interesting competitions in European basketball, simply due to the mass of young, home-grown talent showcasing their skills. Play is characterised by physical halfcourt style, fundamentally sound, extremely disciplined basketball. The league of the overachievers. Budgets are extremely low, yet teams manage to do well in Europe with usually only a couple of foreigners on the roster.

European successes: Partizan has made it to the Euroleague quarter finals twice in a row, but they are struggling this season. Cibona made it to Euroleague Top16 last season, but it will not happen this year. In EuroCup, Adriatic League teams make it deep into the knockout stages on a regular basis.

Euro top 30 teams*: [6] Partizan Belgrade, Cibona Zagreb, Crvena Zvezda, Hemofarm Vrsac, FMP Zeleznik Belgrade, Union Olimpija Ljubljana

Pace: Second slowest league behind Greek A1

Regulations: None, but participating teams have regulations in their domestic championships.

Attendances: 2069.99 per game, ninth in Europe last season

Notes: Buyout money for departing players is an essential part of some clubs’ budgets.

[5] Superleague, Russia

Overview: Superleague is controversially discussed, but if we let the facts speak, it had – prior to this season – one outstanding team, two teams that could win the EuroCup and at least make it to Euroleague Top16, plus a very good EuroCup team in Unics Kazan. That is more than many other leagues have to offer. Of course, we subconsciously set the performances in relation to the huge salaries Khimki, Dynamo etc. were paying, and when we did so, we came to the conclusion that performances by Russian teams on the European level were, apart from CSKA, rather subpar.

Things have changed now anyway: Dynamo, with a budget of less than 10 million Dollars is not able anymore to sign big names, Khimki looks like a solid bet for Euroleague Top16, while CSKA has been completely underperforming after the departure Messina.

European successes: CSKA won the Euroleague in 2006 and 2008, Dynamo and Khimki were EuroCup finalists.

Euro top 30 teams*: [4] CSKA Moscow, Dynamo Moscow, Unics Kazan, Khimki Moscow

Pace: Comparably slow.

Regulations: Minimum of seven Russians on the 12-man-gamesheet, maximum of five foreigners; minimum of two Russian players must be on the floor simultaneously for each team at all times; non-Russian assistant coaches are not allowed to sit on the bench;

Attendances: 2498.10 per game, fifth in Europe last season.

Notes: Superleague, with the exception of Messina’s CSKA, had the reputation of being a paycheck league: Players go there, make big money, but where’s the competitiveness, what do they play for? No basketball culture, and you did not get the feeling that Delfino, Pargo etc. enjoyed playing there.

[6] TBL, Turkey

Overview: Two Euroleague Top16-calibre teams, three more half-decent average EuroCup sides. The rest of the league is known for allowing young talented Americans in particular to post huge numbers, which agents love. Many players have taken their European rookie season for a mid- or low-level Turkish club as a springboard for their European career.

European successes: Fenerbahce was in the Euroleague quarter finals in 07/08, Galatasaray in the EuroCup semis the same season. That’s about it.

Euro top 30 teams*: [2] Efes Pilsen Istanbul, Fenerbahce Istanbul

Pace: Fast and chaotic.

Regulations: Six foreigners allowed on the roster, but only five are allowed on the 12-man-gamesheet; minimum of two Turkish players must be on the floor simultaneously for each team at all times; additional foreign players may be signed for the European competitions, but none of those may replace one of the already registered foreigners in the Turkish league; Maximum of three non-Europeans;

Attendances: 1368.86 per game, thirteenth in Europe last season

That is it for arguably the six most important European basketball leagues. Here is my ranking of the mid-level leagues.

THE REST

[7] BBL, Baltic region
Summary: Dominated by Lithuanian clubs Zalgiris and Rytas. Rytas has won the EuroCup twice in the last five years and does extremely well in Euroleague whenever they participate. The rest of the teams is behind the top two quite a bit.

[8] BSL, Israel
Summary: The fastest league in Europe. Dominated by Maccabi Tel Aviv. Heavily influenced by the American style of basketball.

[9] ProA, France
Summary: A very competitive league with high attendances. Good organisation, but no success whatsoever in the continental competitions. Athletic play.

[10] BBL, Germany
Summary: Similar to France: well-organised, high attendances, but somewhat of a micro-cosmos in European basketball. Not really a European league.

[11] Ethias League, Belgium
Summary: Basically a smaller version of the German league, with similar, tolerant foreigner restrictions.

[12] LEB Gold, Spain
Summary: A really solid league on a decent level of play. Difficult to rank, but considering my experience from a handful of games, I would rank them at #12 here, before several European first leagues.

After the top twelve, you will see leagues with extreme domination by American scorers. The general level of play is rather low. I don’t think a ranking would make sense in this case.

Sources: Ballineurope.com [Attendances], In the game blog post [Pace]