The new VTB United League is expected to expand even further next season after the agreement between the league and two new teams has been reached. Lietuvos Rytas are set to become the second Lithuanian team in the league while Polish champions Asseco Prokom will become the first team from Poland. Rytas were wanted by VTB already last year but the club turned down the offer because the new league ‘was based on the former Soviet league’. Though this season Rimas Kurtinaitis, head coach of Rytas told to the media that the club would benefit from participating in VTB league due to the higher level of competition compared to the Baltic Basketball League for instance. This thought reached the ears of the management of the club obviously.
Asseco Prokom had a good season in Euroleague as they reached the play-offs only falling to Olympiacos later. The addition of the Polish champions to the VTB leagues will add even more quality to the competition.
VTB league featured eight teams this season: CSKA Moscow, Khimki, Unics Kazan and Ural Great (all Russia), Azovmash (Ukraine), Kalev (Estonia), Zalgiris (Lithuania) and VEF Riga (Latvia). The Final Four was hosted in Kaunas. CSKA beat Unics in the final while Zalgiris claimed the third place by winning over Khimki.
