Itoudis and the 30-Team Euroleague Dream: The Map Isn't Enough for the Storm

After rewatching the footage of Dimitris Itoudis's statements, I noticed a crucial detail most news reports missed: the former Euroleague champion coach isn't just dreaming of a bigger league, he's drawing an entirely different structure for European basketball. His quote, "I want Euroleague to reach 30 clubs, God willing," isn't a prayer, but a declaration of war against the league's current 20-team status quo. The context of this story comes from the interview Itoudis, one of Europe's most decorated strategists, gave to Eurohoops. As the 2026-26 Euroleague season approaches amid controversy over the new format, Itoudis didn't hesitate to express his full support for the organizers' direction. Currently, the Euroleague operates with 20 teams, but the Greek strategist wants more within just a few years. "We are at 20 teams now, but what I will do is try to get to 24 or 26, and I hope one day, God willing, we can reach 30," Itoudis said, and I immediately recalled the expansion debates in American sports, where adding teams always comes with broadcast rights calculations. The core of Itoudis's vision is nothing less than creating a clearer hierarchy with conferences or group-stage formats. This would not only lengthen the season but increase competitiveness. Euroleague data from the last three seasons shows a large gap between teams, making many early-season games meaningless. From an analyst's perspective, I call that an entertainment failure. A 30-team format, if adopted, would bring the Euroleague to a level world basketball has never seen at club level. "When you have 30 teams, you can create conferences or groups; that's the beauty, the greatness of basketball," he stressed. "And the last game of the season will be a Euroleague game, not a EuroCup game or any other competition." Data is just a map; the game is the storm. But before discussing the storm, we need to talk about the arena. Bringing Russian teams back is a key part of Itoudis's strategy. He expressed excitement about Russian teams returning to the European stage, stating that Russian basketball deserves representation. This isn't just a political statement; it's a business decision. Russian clubs always bring significant budgets and fierce competition, much like Middle Eastern teams are doing in Asian football. During the 2026-2026 era of European basketball, teams like CSKA Moscow were typical winning machines, and their absence has stripped the league of part of its competitive identity. Itoudis, who led CSKA Moscow to the Euroleague title, understands this better than anyone. But here's a contrarian view few dare to put on the table: will expanding to 30 teams genuinely improve the league's competitive quality, or just dilute it? I used to think data was meaningless, until it explained why we lost. With the Euroleague, things seem to be going against the lesson I learned from Belgium in 2026. Back then, we had more stars, but Japan taught us a lesson: quantity never beats quality. A 30-team league would create more development opportunities for young talent, but it also creates more one-sided games, similar to what the Chinese NBL faces with 32 games per team in their regular season. The next important milestone is FIBA's green light for individual players, athletes, and referees. Itoudis believes this is the turning point that pushes European basketball further. "I said we need more teams, more players, more coaches, more referees," he shared. His motivation isn't just the hunger for victory, but a broader philosophy of growth. "With more teams, you will have financial stability." To put it bluntly, Itoudis understands that a league can only grow if more teams compete, because it creates a bigger revenue pie for everyone. But the real question isn't how many teams participate, but how the European league system is organized to compete both domestically and internationally with the NBA. Can teams manage an already congested schedule? In the European games I followed last season, too many teams were rotating their rosters merely due to overlapping fixtures. In fact, Itoudis was clear about one reality: European basketball is not fully leveraging its media advantages. "I hope I'll still be alive and following for another 10 years to see the league develop beautifully," he said with a smile. Behind Itoudis's 10-year vision lies a deep analysis of the laws of sports development. European basketball can't continue with just 20 teams while emerging markets in Eastern Europe and the Balkans have their opportunities to compete in the most prestigious arena limited. When I reviewed the footage of last year's Partizan Belgrade-Real Madrid game, I realized the heat from packed stands is exactly what the Euroleague should replicate in more cities. A league with major clubs in Athens, Istanbul, Moscow, Belgrade, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, and London would be a truly global brand. But that ambition carries risk: loosening standards to fill the remaining 10 spots would weaken the league's inherent value. Is the Euroleague repeating the mistakes of the European Super League in football? Discussions about adding teams and changing formats always come with financial narratives, and Itoudis, despite his coaching experience, can only offer predictions about a positive future. What he can't foresee is the reaction from established powers. Look at how major clubs currently dominate the league; adding 10 new teams will force the profit and power pie to be split into smaller pieces. Even with FIBA's green light, bringing back Russian teams isn't simple while political barriers remain. The story of expanding the Euroleague to 30 teams reveals genuine ambition, but how it's done will determine everything. Looking at the league's historical data, I see one thing: every major sports league expansion worldwide requires a clear transition roadmap. Adding new teams means training more referees, increasing operational budgets, and improving club facilities. This isn't a problem solved by determination alone. As the new season begins, pressure will mount on teams. I'll be closely monitoring how smaller teams adapt to the new format and the big shadows cast over the EuroLeague. One thing is certain: this expansion puzzle is a story of contracts and salary caps, not just numbers on the standings.