AEK prepares for Basketball Champions League draw on July 8 as league eyes NBA partnership

The Basketball Champions League will hold the group‑stage draw for the 2026‑27 season on 8 July. A pre‑draw meeting of the league’s board is scheduled for 23 June to finalise the competition format, dates, play‑ins, the round of 16, quarter‑finals and the Final Four.

Greek club AEK, the 2018 BCL champion and host of the 2025 Final Four, is set to be a leading contender. The league is positioned as a key pathway to a new joint NBA‑FIBA European competition expected to launch in autumn 2027, potentially giving clubs access to the NBA’s ecosystem. Other strong participants mentioned include Galatasaray, Rytas Vilnius, Alba and the defending champion Rytas. La Laguna Tenerife will move to the EuroCup.

The draw will determine AEK’s group opponents and could mark a step toward the future restructuring of European basketball with NBA involvement.