The NextGen Finals, the premier global junior club basketball event, will feature eight teams:
- Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (winner of NextGen Ulm)
- FC Barcelona (winner of NextGen Bologna)
- Pôle France INSEP Paris (winner of NextGen Belgrade)
- Next Generation Team 3SSB
- Etoile Rouge Belgrade
- Real Madrid
- Zalgiris Kaunas
- Panathinaikos Athens
The clubs competing in the NextGen Finals boast a combined total of 12 U18 continental titles, with nine of the last eleven championships claimed by these teams. Zalgiris enters as the defending champion, having won the title last year in Abu Dhabi, marking their third crown after victories in 2007 and the inaugural tournament in 2003. Real Madrid has an impressive five titles (2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024). INSEP has been crowned champion twice, in 2010 and 2017. Barcelona secured the European championship in 2016, and Etoile Rouge earned its sole title in 2014.
Fans can follow the competition on the Euroleague YouTube channel, with 12 group stage games broadcast over the first three days (Thursday, May 21st to Saturday, May 23rd) at the Sunel Arena. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, May 24th, with the final matching the winners of the two groups, taking place at the Telekom Center Athens as a curtain-raiser to the Euroleague final.
This season marks the 24th edition of the NextGen. Numerous basketball luminaries have emerged from this competition, including future stars like Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić, Deni Avdija, Kristaps Porziņģis, Domantas Sabonis, Vasilije Micić, Nikola Milutinov, Jean Montero, Donatas Motiejūnas, Goga Bitadze, Jonas Valančiūnas, Egor Demin, and Maxime Raynaud, among others.
