Search
Search
Log In
  • Live
  • My news
  • My games
  • My players
  • Scouting
  • Records
  • Pro Basketball Manager
  • CONTACT US

EuroLeague SuperCup: four heavyweights and plenty of new faces in Abu Dhabi

The EuroLeague SuperCup opens the 2026-27 European season this Friday in Abu Dhabi, with Olympiacos, Fenerbahçe, Real Madrid and Dubai Basketball competing over two days at Etihad Arena. Beyond the first trophy of the season, the tournament offers an early look at four ambitious teams that all underwent significant changes during the summer.
|
EuroLeague SuperCup: four heavyweights and plenty of new faces in Abu Dhabi
Shane Larkin will make his Fenerbahçe debut at the EuroLeague SuperCup in Abu Dhabi, following his summer move from Anadolu Efes.
Photo Credit : EuroLeague

The first-ever EuroLeague SuperCup will take place this Friday and Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The format is straightforward: two semifinals on Friday, followed by the third-place game and the final on Saturday. Olympiacos face Fenerbahçe at 16:00 CEST before Dubai Basketball take on Real Madrid at 19:00 CEST.

The field brings together the reigning EuroLeague champion, the 2025 winner, last season’s runner-up and one of the competition’s most ambitious emerging clubs. More importantly, all four arrive in Abu Dhabi with significant questions to answer after an eventful summer.

Olympiacos: new creators for Bartzokas

Reigning EuroLeague champion Olympiacos has retained the foundations of Giorgos Bartzokas’ system while significantly reshaping its backcourt. Thomas Walkup’s departure for Dubai is one of the notable changes, but the Greek club responded by adding two very different creators in Codi Miller-McIntyre (1.91m, 32) and Jean Montero (1.88m, 23).

Miller-McIntyre, who briefly played for JL Bourg in 2021, led the EuroLeague in assists last season with 7.4 per game for Crvena Zvezda. His ability to organize an offense should fit naturally into Bartzokas’ passing-oriented basketball, although integrating a new primary ball-handler into such a structured system remains one of the early points to watch.

Montero brings something different. After establishing himself at Valencia, the Dominican guard gives Olympiacos another player capable of creating advantages off the dribble and generating his own offense. Around them, the core remains formidable, with Sasha Vezenkov, Evan Fournier, Tyler Dorsey, Kostas Papanikolaou and Nikola Milutinov still in Piraeus.

Real Madrid begins the Pedro Martínez era

The biggest change in Madrid is on the bench. Pedro Martínez has taken over after his spell with Valencia and will make his official debut against Dubai. The EuroLeague runner-up has also undergone a substantial roster overhaul, with seven newcomers according to the club.

Mario Hezonja’s departure removes one of Madrid’s main offensive weapons, but the Spanish club has added considerable depth. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (2.01m, 31) arrived from Baskonia, while Mikael Jantunen, Jaime Pradilla, Max Shulga, Olivier Sarr and Damian Jones are among the other additions.

Madrid can still rely on Facundo Campazzo, Walter Tavares and Théo Maledon, while Luwawu-Cabarrot and Sarr increase the French contingent. The SuperCup should provide the first real indication of how quickly Martínez can impose his principles on a deep roster assembled to return to the top of the EuroLeague.

Dubai has added another layer of EuroLeague experience

Few teams were as active as Dubai Basketball this summer. After already establishing itself in the EuroLeague, the UAE club has changed head coach, appointing Xavi Pascual, and surrounded an already strong core with several proven players.

Thomas Walkup (1.93m, 33), Elie Okobo (1.91m, 28), Jaron Blossomgame (1.98m, 32), Tornike Shengelia and Mamadi Diakite have all joined. Okobo and Blossomgame arrived from AS Monaco, while Walkup moved from Olympiacos. They join a group already featuring Dzanan Musa, Dwayne Bacon, Davis Bertans, McKinley Wright IV and Filip Petrusev.

After winning the ABA League last season, Dubai enters its second EuroLeague campaign with considerably more experience and depth. Facing Real Madrid immediately should offer an early indication of how quickly Pascual can bring all those pieces together.

Fenerbahçe rebuilt around even more creation

Fenerbahçe completes the field and provides Olympiacos with a demanding first test. The 2025 EuroLeague champion has also been extensively rebuilt around Sarunas Jasikevicius, while keeping important pieces such as Wade Baldwin IV, Nicolò Melli and Talen Horton-Tucker.

The headline addition is Shane Larkin, who left Anadolu Efes after eight seasons. Fenerbahçe also brought in Shavon Shields, Will Clyburn, Trent Forrest and Braxton Key, giving Jasikevicius several additional ball-handlers and experienced scoring options. The coach himself stressed during the club’s media day that Fenerbahçe wanted to add more decision-makers to its roster.

That makes Friday’s first semifinal an immediate meeting between the last two EuroLeague champions. A few hours later, the new-look Real Madrid and an ambitious Dubai side will complete a first day that should already provide some useful clues before the EuroLeague season officially gets underway.

Monaco
Monaco
Follow
Image Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
EuroLeague SuperCup: four heavyweights and plenty of new faces in Abu Dhabi