11 July 2026, 7:50am
London Lions EuroCup Draw: Group B Opponents and Playoff Chances
London Lions now know the scale of their next European test after being drawn in Group B for the 2026-27 BKT EuroCup regular season.
The Lions will face Turk Telekom Ankara, U-BT Cluj-Napoca, La Laguna Tenerife, Umana Reyer Venice, Maxima Roma, Siauliai Basketball and Skyliners Frankfurt in a group that offers both opportunity and clear danger.
The draw was held in Barcelona, with the expanded EuroCup field split into four groups of eight. Each team will play the other seven clubs in its group home and away, making a 14-game regular season. The top four teams in each group advance to the playoffs, where the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals are all set to be played as best-of-three series.
For London, that makes the target simple: finish in the top half of Group B and give themselves a chance in the knockout rounds.
The Group B line-up
London’s group is a strong mix of established European names, domestic heavyweights and potentially unpredictable one-year entrants.
Turk Telekom Ankara are likely to be one of the headline opponents. The Turkish side play in one of Europe’s toughest domestic leagues and have recent EuroCup pedigree, making them a difficult matchup both physically and tactically.
U-BT Cluj-Napoca bring another serious test. The Romanian club have become a regular European presence and play their home games in a large, intense arena environment. For London, the away trip to Cluj could be one of the group’s trickier fixtures.
La Laguna Tenerife add Spanish ACB quality to the group. Clubs coming out of Spain’s top division are usually well-drilled, experienced and comfortable in high-level European competition. Tenerife should be viewed as one of the group’s most dangerous teams.
Umana Reyer Venice are another major name. The Italian club have a strong European history and compete domestically in Italy’s top flight. Venice will bring size, experience and tactical discipline, and they are unlikely to give London many easy possessions.
Maxima Roma are one of the more intriguing opponents. Eurohoops reported that Maxima Roma are among the one-year EuroCup participants, with the 2026-27 competition featuring two clubs from the Italian capital. That makes them harder to project at this stage, but any Italian opponent in EuroCup should be treated seriously.
Siauliai Basketball give the group a Lithuanian edge. Lithuanian teams are usually technically sound, development-focused and dangerous from the perimeter. For London, these could be the sort of games where concentration and defensive detail decide the standings.
Skyliners Frankfurt complete the group. The German club have a recognised European name and will be another opponent where London’s ability to win the physical and rebounding battle could matter.
What are London Lions’ chances?
On paper, Group B is challenging but not impossible. London do not need to win the group to achieve a successful regular season. With four teams advancing, the Lions’ immediate goal should be to protect home court, pick up road wins against direct rivals, and avoid letting the group’s biggest names create separation early.
The toughest fixtures are likely to come against Tenerife, Reyer Venice, Turk Telekom and U-BT Cluj-Napoca. Those four have the profile of teams that could reasonably expect to compete for playoff places. That does not mean London are outsiders, but it does mean their margin for error will be smaller than in domestic play.
The swing games may come against Maxima Roma, Siauliai and Skyliners Frankfurt. If London can win those matchups at home and split enough away games, a top-four finish becomes a realistic target.
A lot will depend on roster continuity and how quickly London adjust to the rhythm of the competition. EuroCup weeks demand more than talent: travel, scouting, recovery, defensive discipline and late-game execution all become decisive. The Lions have shown in previous European campaigns that they can compete at this level, including their historic run to the EuroCup semifinals in 2023-24.
That past success matters. London are not entering this competition as a novelty name. They are returning with a multi-year EuroCup agreement and a clear ambition to build a sustainable European platform.
Why this draw matters
This is more than just a fixture list for British basketball. London’s return to EuroCup comes at a time when the club is also being discussed in wider EuroLeague expansion conversations, with London seen as an important market for European basketball.
Strong performances in this group would help the Lions make the case that British clubs can be more than occasional participants. A playoff place would be a meaningful step. A deep run would be a major statement.
For now, the draw gives London a clear challenge: survive a balanced Group B, turn the Copper Box into a genuine European home-court advantage, and prove they belong among the top half of the EuroCup field.
Featured image: Joel Scott pictured in London Lions EuroCup action. Image by Zafer, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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