You too could be playing ball with Europe's finest as long as you engage shrewd financial and management tactics with FIBA Basketball Manager 2008. Bag the biggest sponsorship deals, woo the best players and draw in the crowds to create a wild atmosphere at the stadium.

As the manager, the team and stadium’s success is down to you! Be sure to sell out of tickets and stock the stadium’s shop with great merchandise to excite customers and bring in the cash. All this will help to pay for essential overheads such as arena upgrades, media costs and staff wages.

However, you’ll need to use your budget wisely so that you can offer your superstar players an attractive salary, and trade players between International and English teams to put together the top line up in the championships. First-rate financial management of these contracts is key; should a player get injured, they will need replacing.