Overview

• Germany’s top league returns to 18 clubs and opens its 60th season with Bayern Munich hosting promoted Science City Jena on Friday night.
• The BBL reverts to a standard points table and clarifies playoffs: the top six qualify directly, places 7–10 play for two spots, and all series are Best-of-Five.
• Alba Berlin confirmed its strategic pivot away from the EuroLeague, will compete in the Basketball Champions League, and is in dialogue about a possible NBA Europe that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has referenced for 2027–2028.
• The Berliners trimmed their player budget by about 40 percent and reduced the squad to 12, then closed preseason with a 75:95 loss at King Wilki Morskie Szczecin before a league debut on October 3 against Gladiators Trier.
• Elsewhere, Syntainics MBC began its ENBL campaign with a win in coach Marco Ramondino’s debut, and Niners Chemnitz enter the season after a major overhaul with coach Rodrigo Pastore extended through 2028.