The start of the 2025–2026 EuroLeague season is just hours away, so buckle up!
With 20 teams participating and 38 Rounds in the regular season, this campaign will be longer than the last -- and considering how active the new teams were during the transfer window it's safe to say the action will be as hot as ever.
If you have any questions or comments about strategy or the picks below, feel free to drop those at the bottom of this article or reach out on X via @RotoWireEuro.
Good luck on your EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge journey!
Guard
Carsen Edwards, Virtus Bologna (14.1 credits)
Last season Edwards proved that he is a high-caliber player, earning a spot on the All-EuroLeague First Team in his third EuroLeague campaign. Over the offseason he departed Bayern for Virtus, where he will earn significantly more while remaining the focal point of the offense. In his club's final tune-up Saturday against rival Milan, Edwards unsurprisingly led all scored with 21 points. Although Virtus will play at home in Round 1, a matchup against Real Madrid will be a tough test, and if they want to come away with a win they will need a top-tier performance from their new scoring star.
Justin Robinson, Paris Basketball (11.5 credits)
His duty -- something out of a "Mission Impossible" script -- is to replace TJ Shorts. No matter who Paris added they will feel the absence of Shorts, who the team was entirely centered around the last two years. By bringing in a player with a similar profile, though, Paris has made it clear they intend to stick with a similar system -- even with former head coach Tiago Splitter no longer around. Robinson spent last season in Italy with Trapani Shark and averaged 14.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists en route to All-LBA honors. Thanks to this standout showing, he now gets a chance to show what he can do on the EuroLeague stage.
Talen Horton-Tucker, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (10.5 credits)
Horton-Tucker had an epic domestic-league debut Saturday, delivering an eye-catching performance with 24 points, four rebounds and seven assists. His strong showing was an early indicator that he could be one of the EuroLeague's top newcomers this season. It's worth noting that key players like Wade Baldwin IV and Mikael Jantunen were rested Saturday, but even so, Horton-Tucker showed everyone that he can be a leader on the court. Fenerbahce will open the EuroLeague season against Paris at home, which will provide Horton-Tucker an opportunity to connect with the fans right from the start.
Tyson Carter, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (9.3 credits)
Devonte Graham and Isaiah Canaan are listed on the EuroLeague Injury Report and are out for Round 1, which means both Carter and Codi Miller-McIntyre should be plenty busy against Milan. Carter is known for his scoring-oriented style, which is essentially the opposite of Miller-McIntyre's floor-general approach. This contrast can be a double-edged sword -- if his shots are not falling, Carter could find himself on the bench. However, if he gets into rhythm, he has the potential to provide valuable output. For those who enjoy taking a bit of a risk, Carter could be a decent pick for the opening Round.
Sergio De Larrea, Valencia Basket (6.5 credits)
Born in 2005, De Larrea already looks like a leading contender for this season's Rising Star award. He proved it even before the EuroLeague season began, delivering standout performances in the Spanish Super Cup that Valencia won over the weekend. De Larrea played well in the semifinal and was even better in the final, scoring 21 points in 19 minutes against Real Madrid en route to securing MVP honors.
Forward
Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos Piraeus (16.0 credits)
With the Fantasy Challenge rules being revised to once again grant double points to the player in the captain's spot, the spotlight naturally shifts back to high-efficiency players like Vezenkov, who has the potential to put up 20 PIR or more in every game. In the opening Round, Olympiacos will face a Baskonia club that will have less firepower in the frontcourt with Chima Moneke having departed. Although Vezenkov led the league with a 23.7 average index rating last season he did not take home the MVP award. Don't be surprised if that gives him a bit of a chip on his shoulder during the upcoming campaign.
Mikael Jantunen, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (9.0 credits)
Jantunen is a player Fenerbahce fans have high hopes for, and he will have ample opportunities with former cornerstone Nigel Hayes-Davis heading to the NBA. In fact, Jantunen's contributions at the power forward position could shape the course of Fenerbahce's season. Although he was rested in the Turkish Basketball League opener, he previously delivered a solid performance against EuroCup contenders Besiktas in the Turkish Super Cup final.
Saliou Niang, Virtus Bologna (7.4 credits)
After being selected in the second round of the NBA Draft and providing an impressive EuroBasket performance with the Italian national team, Niang will be one of the top players to watch -- not just for Virtus but in the entire EuroLeague. Born in 2004, Niang gained valuable experience over the past two seasons in the EuroCup with Trento, and he now gets his moment on the EuroLeague stage. Last season he averaged an 8.5 PIR in the EuroCup, and this year he will look to fill the void at the small forward spot opened by the departure of Isaia Cordinier. With his long wingspan, athleticism and high energy, it's easy to see Niang making an impact on the defensive end.
Ercan Osmani, Anadolu Efes Istanbul (6.5 credits)
Osmani averaged around 16 minutes per game in EuroLeague play last season, and it's safe to expect a similar number -- or even more. In EuroBasket 2025, he was the star of the semifinal, delivering a standout performance against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece with 28 points, eight rebounds and six triples. Osmani finished the tournament averaging 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting an impressive 56% from three-point range, making him one of Turkiye's most important players in the competition. Heading into the 2025–2026 EuroLeague season it's clear he could take on an even more significant role for Efes than he played during the previous campaign.
Center
Moses Wright, Zalgiris Kaunas (10.5 credits)
Wright was Zalgiris' flashiest signing of the offseason. As soon as the transfer market opened, the club moved quickly to sign Wright, immediately addressing one of their biggest issues from last year: the lack of a true rim protector in the painted area. Beyond his defensive presence Wright is also known for his high motor and intensity. The one question surrounding him is the health issue he faced last season -- a rather unfortunate "respiratory infection" that kept him off the court for four months. If no further setbacks occur, Wright could be one of the top players on the Zalgiris roster, and we may very well witness a second Keenan Evans-type breakout in Kaunas.
Jasiel Rivero, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (10.1 credits)
After spending last season with Maccabi and averaging 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in EuroLeague play, Rivero joined Red Star over the offseason. With Joel Bolomboy still recovering from an injury and missing the preseason, this presents a major opportunity for Rivero. He will be sharing the minutes at the center with Ebuka Izundu, and it would not be a stretch to expect Rivero to see more minutes than his teammate.
Head Coach
Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (10.0 credits)
Like last season Ataman starts with a price tag of 10.0 credits, which makes him the most expensive coach in the game. With Edwards no longer in town, the Bayern team Panathinaikos gets in Round 1 looks significantly weakened, and Panathinaikos will be eager to start the season strong in front of its home crowd. Even with the high price tag, there might not be a better way to grab 20 points from a coach in Round 1.
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (8.5 credits)
After a brilliant coaching performance last season that brought him the first championship of his career, the Lithuanian legend enters the new campaign with tempered expectations. Jasikevicius has publicly stated that his team could not make the transfer moves they hoped for during the offseason, and with the departures of Hayes-Davis, Marko Guduric and Errick McCollum it's understandable that Fenerbahçe might struggle to find their rhythm early on. Their replacements mostly come from the NBA market and it's unclear how the new roster will perform throughout the season. That said, they open the campaign at home against Paris, a team that also lost significant strength over the summer. Playing in front of the home fans could be a key edge for Fenerbahce, and although question marks remain they are comfortable favorites in Round 1.
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