The biggest rivalries in the NBA have nothing on the biggest EuroLeague basketball rivalries. Let's take a look at the biggest basketball derbies in Europe.
6. Aris vs. PAOK
The Derby of Thessaloniki, also known as the Derby of Macedonia, or Derby of Northern Greece, is one of the biggest EuroLeague basketball rivalries. The derby translates over from football and the two Thessalonian clubs from Greece's second biggest city are historically split on social differences.
@basketeurope @paokbc are amazing! #PAOK #Basketball #Ultras #Fans @BasketballCL #Greece @Esake_France pic.twitter.com/n5nypitiib
— Corentin Rodriguez (@RodrigCorentin) December 14, 2017
Aris fans are traditionally from the upper class and PAOK fans are historically Greek refugees who are working class migrants. Both Aris and PAOK are among the most well supported clubs in Greece and both have passionate ultras among their fans.
5. Crvena Zvezda-Red Star vs. Galatasaray
Cultural differences between Serbia and Turkey is the foundation for one of the biggest EuroLeague and basketball rivalries. The 2014 death of Red Star fan Marko Ivkovic who was stabbed by a Galatasaray supporter has only fuelled the hatred between both sets of supporters. The ill feeling was made obvious when a portion of Galatasaray fans booed the minute's silence during a Turkish league game in honour of Ivkovic.Both Red Star and Galatasaray fans are among the most passionate supporters in the world. In 2015 Red Star fans threw pork legs in the direction of Galatasaray players and fans in retaliation to Ivkovic's death.
4. Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray
Galatasaray makes the list again, this time for the Intercontinental Derby, also known as the Eternal Rivalry. It's a European basketball rivalry and a battle between two of the biggest basketball clubs in Turkey that extends across other sports especially football. It doesn't matter what game or whatever the championship significance, the two sets of supporters have a fierce hatred for one another.The Istanbul clubs are split over huge cultural differences. Fenerbahce is located in the Asian part of Istanbul and therefore has a traditionally strong Muslim fan base. Galatasaray on the other hand are based on the European side of Istanbul and they have a traditionally strong European and more specifically, French influence.
...I'll be back tomorrow with the final part of the biggest EuroLeague basketball rivalries.
YES, ANOTHER BASKETBALL BLOG...
Another Basketball Blog is a spin-off of Wolfgang Sport, an American and British sports blog I created in 2017. Basketball is one of the most culturally intensive sports in the world and the aim is to dive deep into the culture.
