A landmark decision has been reached in European basketball: the EuroLeague will undergo a significant expansion for the 2025/26 season. This pivotal change was determined during a crucial EuroLeague meeting where a vote confirmed the addition of two more teams, thereby increasing the total number of participating clubs to twenty. The league officially validated this development, stating, "the Board approved the proposal to expand the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague to 20 teams beginning with the 2025–26 season," marking a new era for the competition.

Following this decision, the EuroLeague Board is set to present a preliminary list of the proposed teams that will participate in the expanded format. However, the finalization of this list is contingent upon the completion of all requisite formalities and administrative procedures. Beyond the immediate 2025-26 expansion, the Board has also engaged in initial discussions concerning potential additional expansion scenarios for seasons subsequent to this, indicating a long-term vision for growth.

The expanded lineup for the 2025/26 season is expected to feature new entrants Valencia BC and Dubai BC. These clubs will join the roster of teams from the previous season, with the notable exception of ALBA Berlin, which has made a move to the Basketball Champions League. Additionally, Hapoel Tel Aviv, by virtue of winning the EuroCup, will also be granted a place in the prestigious tournament.

Regarding the competition's structure, the established round-robin format will be preserved despite the increase in the number of teams. To manage the augmented schedule, the league plans to incorporate a greater number of "double weeks," where teams play two games in quick succession. It is important to note that, under the current plans, a break in the schedule for FIBA international windows is not anticipated to be feasible. For teams entering the league through wildcards, three-year licenses will be issued, providing a degree of stability. In contrast, Hapoel Tel Aviv's spot, earned through their EuroCup victory, will be for a single year.

There are still final decisions pending concerning the participation of teams from Paris and Dubai. Both are being treated as special cases, largely due to the significant and strategic markets they represent, which could have a substantial impact on the league's reach and commercial appeal. This transformative change in the EuroLeague's structure occurs merely two days after a high-level meeting in Geneva involving representatives from FIBA and the NBA. The inclusion of Dubai BC into the EuroLeague framework, a development seemingly not aligned with the NBA's articulated European strategy, underscores the escalating complexity and potential friction in achieving unified collaboration among the major stakeholders shaping the future landscape of European basketball.