As the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague regular season heads into its final round, the postseason picture is set—but the drama is far from over. While Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, and Panathinaikos have already punched their tickets directly to the Playoffs, the battle for the remaining Playoff and Play-In spots is shaping up to be one of the most intense finishes in recent memory.
The Tightest Race Yet
Heading into Round 34, a logjam has formed between fifth and 10th place. Anadolu Efes, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona all sit at 19–14, while Crvena Zvezda and Paris trail closely behind at 18–15. With just one round left to play, multiple teams could end the regular season tied—triggering a series of complex tiebreaker scenarios that could shake up the standings entirely.
The Tiebreaker Rules
When multiple teams finish with the same record, the EuroLeague applies tiebreakers to determine rankings. The primary tiebreaker? Head-to-head records among the tied teams. In situations with more than two tied teams, a mini-league is created considering only games between those clubs.
Scenario 1: A Six-Way Tie
If all six contenders—Efes, Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, Zvezda, and Paris—end the season with identical 19–15 records, here’s how the head-to-head results break down:
- Real Madrid: 7–3
- Anadolu Efes: 6–4
- Bayern Munich: 5–5
- Crvena Zvezda: 4–6
- Barcelona: 4–6
- Paris Basketball: 4–6
In this case, Real Madrid would clinch fifth place thanks to their dominant performance in direct matchups. Efes would follow in sixth, with Bayern, Zvezda, Barcelona, and Paris likely heading to the Play-In based on their order.
Scenario 2: Paris Makes a Move
Paris Basketball, one of the surprise packages this season, still has a path to a top-six finish. If Efes, Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, and Zvezda all lose in Round 34—and Paris defeats ALBA Berlin—the French side would vault into the top tier.
This would create a five-way tie among Paris, Efes, Bayern, and Barcelona, all at 4–4 in the mini-league, behind Madrid at 5–3. In this case, point differential in head-to-head games among the tied teams would determine the order for sixth through ninth. That means every basket will matter.
What’s at Stake?
- Top 6 finish: Guarantees a direct Playoff berth
- 7th–10th: Teams enter the Play-In tournament, facing extra games and potential elimination
- 11th and below: Season over
With such a fine margin separating direct qualification and the Play-In gauntlet, teams will be laser-focused on results—not just in their own games, but across the entire EuroLeague map.
The Bottom Line
The final round of the 2024–25 EuroLeague regular season promises to be a nail-biting conclusion to a tightly contested campaign. With tiebreakers looming large and so many possible permutations, fans can expect drama, heartbreak, and possibly even surprise glory. Buckle up—Round 34 is going to be wild.
