Dimitris Itoudis praised Hapoel Tel Aviv’s EuroCup success and their ambition to join the EuroLeague. He advocated for league expansion to 30 teams, highlighted financial stability as a key factor, and called for greater cooperation among stakeholders.
Hapoel Tel Aviv’s historic run to the EuroCup semifinals has brought excitement to the club and its supporters.
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv / Schedule
Valencia Basket
Hapoel Shlomo Tel AvivPlaying their games in Samokov, Bulgaria, due to geopolitical circumstances, the team recently enjoyed strong fan support against Turk Telekom, which coach Dimitris Itoudis acknowledged as a key moment for the club.
“This is a huge achievement for Hapoel Tel Aviv,” Itoudis told Sportal.
“It’s their first time reaching the EuroCup semifinals, and they have worked hard for it. The EuroCup format has changed, and while I always support the playoff structure in basketball, the current knockout system before the playoffs is a challenge. I hope we see a consistent playoff format in the EuroLeague as well in the coming years.”
With a crucial semifinal matchup against Valencia, Itoudis identified the Spanish club as the clear favorite.
“Valencia is a very strong and experienced team,” he explained. “Nine of their players have EuroLeague experience, and they have a stable roster, long-term planning, and a high budget. They’re even building a new arena. They are the favorites in this series, but Hapoel has proven its resilience.”
Beyond this season, Itoudis highlighted Hapoel’s long-term ambition to secure a spot in the EuroLeague.
“Our club has a strong desire to be part of the EuroLeague in the future, ideally with a three-year contract that would allow us to plan accordingly,” he stated.
“We don’t just have ambition; we have the financial stability, infrastructure, and organizational quality to maintain high-level basketball. Our owner, Ofer Yannay, and key stakeholder Gili Ranan provide economic security and a vision for the future.”
The Greek coach shared his vision for the future of European basketball. As president of the EuroLeague Coaches Board, Itoudis is committed to shaping the league’s future and has been gathering insights to present in upcoming meetings.
“I haven’t yet discussed all these ideas with EuroLeague officials, but I’m making notes,” he said. “I want to present observations to help make basketball even more attractive. We know the EuroCup winner earns a EuroLeague spot, but there are also wild-card entries. We’re working towards that goal as well.”
Itoudis emphasized the importance of rivalries in making the EuroLeague more appealing, suggesting that Hapoel’s entry could bring a new, intense derby.
“Hapoel Tel Aviv has all the necessary foundations,” he argued.
“For the third straight year, they are competing in the EuroCup. They’ve moved to the Menora Mivtahim Arena, and they bring financial stability. Adding a Hapoel Tel Aviv-Maccabi Tel Aviv derby would be a great addition to the EuroLeague, just like Partizan-Red Star, Panathinaikos-Olympiacos, and Barcelona-Real Madrid.”
The Greek coach also touched on the league’s need for expansion, advocating for a model that could eventually resemble the NBA’s structure.
“My dream is a EuroLeague with 30 teams,” he revealed.
“It won’t happen overnight, but I believe we can start with 20 teams soon. Investors with financial stability, like those in Hapoel Tel Aviv or Dubai, should be welcomed. We need to strengthen European basketball to compete with leagues in Australia, Japan, and China, which are increasingly attractive destinations for players.”
To make expansion possible, Itoudis stressed the need for collaboration among all stakeholders.
“The EuroLeague’s popularity is evident—arenas are full regardless of the opponent,” he said.
“We must find a way to balance domestic leagues and the EuroLeague without disrupting the identity of clubs. One idea is increasing roster spots beyond the current 17-player limit. Clubs could also establish secondary teams, like ‘Partizan 2’ or ‘Panathinaikos 2,’ to help manage the growing schedule.”
With a clear vision and a push for expansion, Itoudis is determined to help shape the next phase of European basketball, ensuring that clubs like Hapoel Tel Aviv can continue their rise while strengthening the EuroLeague as a whole. He further emphasized the importance of joint discussions among the Coaches Board, Players Association, Referees Association, and club owners to create the best expansion model.
“The introduction of the play-in tournament was a great idea from the Coaches Board, and it has added excitement to the league,” he noted.
“Now, several teams are still fighting for a spot in the postseason. There are many good ideas from people deeply involved in the game, and we need to sit down and discuss them.”
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