ABA League (EU) 2026/27

The ABA League is a regional men's professional basketball competition that operates outside the national pyramid structures of its participating countries. Founded in July 2001 in Ljubljana, the league was established by representatives of four founding clubs: KK Bosna, KK Budućnost, KK Cibona, and KK Olimpija. Initially branded as the Goodyear League, it became the NLB League in 2006 before governance was transferred to ABA League JTD in 2015. The competition serves as a de facto domestic championship for participating clubs in several countries, creating a unique dual-participation model where teams compete in both the ABA League and their domestic leagues simultaneously. There is no promotion or relegation between the ABA League and national leagues; participation is based on licensing and invitations. The format has evolved from a single round-robin table to a group stage system. The 2024–25 season introduced two groups of seven teams. The current champion is Partizan, who defeated Crvena zvezda in the finals. The most successful club is Partizan with 8 titles, followed by Crvena zvezda with 7 titles. The league is owned and operated by the clubs themselves, unlike the commercially driven EuroLeague Basketball entity. It is also characterized by intense historical rivalries stemming from the former Yugoslavia, such as the "Eternal Derby" between Partizan and Crvena zvezda. The league sits outside national pyramid structures; it is a regional top-tier competition that coexists with national leagues (e.g., KLS in Serbia, A-1 Liga in Croatia, SKL in Slovenia). Clubs participate in both the ABA League and their domestic leagues simultaneously. There is no promotion or relegation between the ABA League and national leagues; participation is based on licensing and invitations. The league is distinct from European competitions like the EuroLeague because it serves as the de facto domestic championship for participating clubs in several countries, creating a unique dual-participation model. It is also characterized by intense historical rivalries stemming from the former Yugoslavia, such as the "Eternal Derby" between Partizan and Crvena zvezda. The league is owned and operated by the clubs themselves, unlike the commercially driven EuroLeague Basketball entity.