Joventut’s BCL defensive masterclass

Badalona’s defense sets them apart in early 2025/26 BCL season

By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net

Joventut Badalona have made a statement in the early stages of the 2025/26 Basketball Champions League season, showcasing one of the league’s most impressive defensive performances under coach Daniel Miret.

In their first four games, the Spanish side has allowed fewer than 75 points in every outing — a mark of consistency and discipline that only six other teams in BCL history have achieved, all in the 2016/17 season, the league’s inaugural campaign.

The numbers tell the story. Joventut opened the season with a commanding 91-73 victory over Cholet, followed by an 81-65 road win against Hapoel Holon. Back at home, they dismantled Bursa 94-67, and in their latest outing, they secured a 79-68 win on the road against the same Turkish side.

Across these four games, the team’s defense has been nothing short of exceptional, keeping opponents well below the 75-point threshold while maintaining a high level of efficiency on offense. Their defensive rating ranks among the top five in the BCL this season, per 3stepsbasket.com, a testament to their commitment to the less glamorous, yet equally crucial, side of the game.

Looking at points allowed against the top three teams in the 2025/26 BCL season, Joventut continues to impress. AEK has conceded 66.3 points, Unicaja 67.0, and Joventut 68.3. These figures not only highlight the team’s ability to stifle offenses but also underscore their consistency across both home and away games.

Their disciplined defensive approach is a key reason why Badalona has quickly established itself as one of the league’s most formidable squads. Still, while defense has been the focal point, Joventut’s offense has been efficient enough to complement their stops. The team boasts the third-best offensive rating in the BCL, trailing only Rytas Vilnius and league leaders La Laguna Tenerife.

Joventut’s early success is also underlined by standout individual performances. Ante Tomic has been crucial in the paint, averaging a PIR of 17.5, while Ricky Rubio has orchestrated the offense with an average of 14 points and 4.3 assists per game.

Balancing scoring with defensive rigor is what separates the league’s contenders from the rest, and under Daniel Miret, Badalona appears to have found that balance early on.

If they continue this trend, Joventut could not only make a deep run in the BCL but also etch their name alongside the defensive elites of the league’s history, having already replicated a feat previously seen only in 2016/17.

However, it seems the best is yet to come from Joventut Badalona.