Damien Inglis entered the 2014 draft with Milwaukee, bypassing Jokic and Tavares. There he formed a strong bond with Giannis Antetokounmpo. In Valencia, a tall forward has openly admired Chus Mateo’s Real Madrid squad, calling it one of the best teams he has ever seen. Some observers even wonder aloud if this could be Real Madrid’s most formidable era in basketball history. Through the early stages of the season, their performance has already become a standout, with a 35-3 record in 2023-24.
ACB and Euroleague Leader
In the ACB, Real Madrid already boasts 16 wins with a single loss, a result that sealed their cup qualification and widened the gap with the second-placed Malaga, which held 14 wins and three defeats. In Europe, they have 19 victories against only two losses, falling to Fenerbahçe and Barcelona. After beating Barça and Unicaja, they added two victories in the Spanish Super Cup, securing the championship.
Government awards Ricky Rubio Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sports Merit
EFE
The ACB benchmarks were set with a 34-2 record in the 2020/21 season. The longest consecutive winning streak in the league reached 28. The current Euroleague balance of 18-2 aims for the best record in the tournament’s history, as they have already broken the record for the best first round in the competition.
Real Madrid is not only about statistics. The team’s on-court performance invites the thought that this could be the finest Madrid squad ever. With two dominant centers like Tavares and Poirier delivering their best, and Mario Hezonja posting the best minutes of his career last month, the Croatian forward even surpassed his NBA form in a four-overtime thriller that the Whites won against Anadolu Efes, 130-126.
Llull, ‘Chacho’ and Rudy
The squad also benefits from Sergio Llull, the magic of Chacho Rodríguez, and the experience of Rudy Fernández. The 38-year-old veteran announced his international retirement after the Paris Olympic Games. The energy of Facundo Campazzo, who returned this season, the scoring punch of Musa as the campaign progressed, and the work of Yabusele and Ndiaye under the basket have all contributed. The rise of Abalde, Alcocén, and other young talents has deepened the squad, reflecting a level of breadth rarely seen in European basketball.
The brilliant work of ‘foreign’ Chus Mateo: how he built an almost invincible Real Madrid
Denis Iglesias
Under Chus Mateo, the staff has grown cohesive. Mateo reached his 100th victory over his predecessor last week, as Pablo Laso coaches Bayern Munich. He is a prudent, hard-working tactician who has proven himself an educator and an optimizer of resources. He moves the bench effectively and engages every player. Yet the bigger concern for the coach is the future: nine of the 14 players in the squad will have contracts ending in 2024, and the team is re-evaluating its options as the season unfolds.
Despite the on-court success, the club’s finances tell a different story. The basketball department posted a loss of 27.8 million euros last season, even as revenue hit a record high thanks to sponsorships and subscriptions. This financial landscape has pushed up player bonuses, yet Florentino Pérez has stressed that the club can absorb this income to safeguard Madrid’s storied tradition and its long list of national and international championships. Fans will hope this season repeats the peak level of play the basketball section has shown, even if some calls for caution remain. Is it exaggeration or reality? The evidence on the floor suggests the latter, as Real Madrid continues to push for excellence across competitions.