Serbian basketball clubs may join VTB League

Filip Šunturlić, Vice President of the Basketball Federation of Serbia (KSS), has confirmed ongoing discussions regarding the potential participation of Serbian basketball clubs in the VTB United League. Speaking at the ‘ExpoBasket’ forum, Šunturlić noted that talks are being held with VTB League President Sergey Kuschenko.

The initial phase of cooperation could involve Serbian teams participating in pre-season tournaments and the VTB Supercup. While long-term inclusion in the league remains a possibility, Šunturlić highlighted significant logistical challenges. Specifically, the heavy match schedules of top Serbian clubs like Partizan and Crvena zvezda—who play approximately 80 matches per season across various domestic and international competitions—make their immediate participation impractical.

The move follows the decision by Kazakhstan's Astana to withdraw from the VTB League for the 2026/27 season, leaving the league with 11 clubs instead of the planned 12. Šunturlić suggested that more serious discussions regarding the league's structure could occur once the current European basketball landscape stabilizes and Russian clubs return to competitions like the EuroLeague and EuroCup.