The London Lions are officially back in the EuroCup for the 2025–26 campaign, as confirmed by Euroleague Basketball during the June 19 ECA shareholders meeting.
This marks the club’s return to European competition after a one-year absence and is viewed as a major step in their long-term vision to position London as a basketball hub on the continent.
The Lions will be one of 20 teams competing in the EuroCup, the second-tier tournament in Europe, which tips off on September 30, 2025.
Their re-entry comes after two historic seasons in the competition, where they reached the playoffs in 2023 and advanced to the semi-finals in 2024, ultimately falling to Paris Basketball.
Despite not featuring in the 2024–25 edition, the Lions’ previous performances showcased their capability to compete with Europe’s strongest sides.
Club CEO Lenz C. Balan said the return signals London’s growing stature in European basketball, emphasizing that the team’s ambitions are rooted in sustained growth, not just short-term success.
Their participation aligns with recent infrastructure plans backed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the club’s owners, Tesonet, to construct a purpose-built basketball arena in the capital.
The arena project is seen as a foundational step to bolster both elite and grassroots basketball in the city, while also providing a permanent home for the team.
Martynas Purlys, the Lions’ General Manager, confirmed the club is actively building a roster designed to compete at the highest level of the EuroCup.
This includes targeting talent capable of leading the team deeper into the playoffs and potentially challenging for a EuroLeague promotion in the future.
Alongside the Lions, the 2025–26 EuroCup field includes Besiktas, Buducnost VOLI, Hapoel Jerusalem, Cedevita Olimpija, Panionios, U-BT Cluj-Napoca, and ratiopharm Ulm, among others.
With the competition serving as a pathway to EuroLeague qualification, the stakes are high for all participating clubs.
