Barcelona basketball celebrates 100 years as rebuilt side targets European revival

Barcelona will mark the centenary of its basketball section on Monday, celebrating a century of history while beginning preparations for a new era under Slovenian coach Sikolic.

The main anniversary event will be held at the Auditori 1899, where club legends and other figures who have shaped Barcelona’s basketball history are expected to attend. The club will also unveil the activities planned throughout the 2026-27 season to commemorate the milestone.

Barcelona’s basketball section was officially established on 24 August 1926, according to Spanish newspaper Sport. The club’s board approved the proposal put forward by Pere Cussell during a meeting at Barcelona’s former headquarters in Plaza del Teatro, near La Rambla.

Over the following 100 years, the section has collected numerous honours and enjoyed periods of success, while also enduring difficult spells and disappointing results. The centenary celebrations arrive as Barcelona attempt to rebuild their team and return to the upper reaches of European basketball.

Club president Joan Laporta is due to deliver the opening address at Monday’s ceremony. He will review the most significant moments from the section’s first century and underline its importance within Barcelona’s sporting structure, as well as the board’s commitment to continuing its support.

The anniversary will take place alongside the start of a new chapter for the first team. Barcelona have made extensive changes to their squad and appointed the new Slovenian coach Sikolic, with the aim of restoring the side to a level closer to the expectations of the club and its supporters.

The first team’s preparations for the new season will begin on Monday afternoon with their opening training session. Only a limited number of players are expected to take part, because several members of the squad are currently away with their national teams during a period of FIBA international fixtures.

Those initially involved will include Juan Nunez, Muhammad Dabone and Abdou Kone. Kevin Punter has been granted permission to join the sessions at a later stage, while new arrivals Josh Nebo and Augustin Ubal are set to experience their first day with the team.

Barcelona’s other new signings – Tyrese Martin, Justin Robinson, Yoan Makoundou and Stanley Umude – will also begin their preparations with the club.

A number of established players will be absent because of international commitments. Dario Brizuela and Joel Parra are with Spain, Olivier Nkamhoua is representing Finland, Olek Balcerowski is with Poland, Tosan Evbuomwan is on duty with Great Britain and Umoja Gibson is away with Bulgaria.

The combination of the centenary event and the first training session will give Barcelona both an opportunity to reflect on its longstanding basketball tradition and an early indication of the work required to rebuild the team. The club hopes the celebrations will provide a fitting link between its historic achievements and its ambitions for the next stage of its European challenge.