This past August and September, the 2025 EuroBasket tournament took place. The tournament featured numerous NBA Stars such as Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and more. Germany ended up winning the tournament, with new Sacramento Kings guard and NBA veteran Dennis Schroder winning the MVP.<\/p>\n
Recently, it was revealed that EuroBasket standout Mateusz Ponitka of Poland, almost made it to the NBA a few years back after mentioning that an in interview<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dziennikarz: A s\u0142ysza\u0142 pan, \u017ce Marcin Gortat te\u017c chwali wasz\u0105 dru\u017cyn\u0119?<\/p>\n Mateusz Ponitka: Dobrze. To fajnie. #plkpl<\/a> #koszkadra<\/a> #EuroBasket<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FSDL34ameC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SuperBasket (@superbasketpl) September 8, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n The 32-year-old played well for Poland during EuroBasket 2025, averaging 18.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Putting up those numbers against other NBA talent, the Denver Nuggets noticed his talent long ago, back in 2016.<\/p>\n “When I was in Zielona Gora \u2013 sometime after the EuroCup quarterfinal against Gran Canaria \u2013 Denver Nuggets called me, and I had a contract on the table,” He mentioned.<\/p>\n Mateusz Ponitka was on a mission to deliver his people the best of basketball \ud83d\udd25#EuroBasket<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/hLUlWCqjCM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n “I didn\u2019t see a chance for myself to stay there long-term,” he added. “At that time, I wasn\u2019t mentally ready to function there. I\u2019m afraid that if I had gone to the NBA back then, it might have gone to my head.”<\/p>\n Being almost a decade ago, the Denver Nuggets looked much different back then. A young Jokic was just learning how to manage NBA life and hadn’t turned into the MVP he is today. The team had just drafted Jamal Murray, and only won 33 games during the 2015-16 season.<\/p>\n With the 7th pick in the 2016 #NBADraft<\/a>, the Denver Nuggets select Jamal Murray! #WelcomeToDenver<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tKs4Dpbjkp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) June 24, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n That timeline would have put Ponitka at around 23 years old, which would have been perfect for a young rebuilding Nuggets team. However, his mind wasn’t even worried about the NBA but actually his own Euro team and their playoff run.<\/p>\n “I wasn\u2019t self-aware or brave enough to fight for my dream. I felt responsibility for the team and didn\u2019t want to leave it right before the Playoffs,” said Ponitka.<\/p>\n \u26f9\ufe0f\u200d\u2642\ufe0f Oyuncumuz Mateusz Ponitka, \u00fclkesi Polonya\u2019n\u0131n Milli Tak\u0131m\u0131m\u0131za ma\u011flup oldu\u011fu #EuroBasket<\/a> 2025 kar\u015f\u0131la\u015fmas\u0131nda 19 say\u0131, 6 ribaund, 6 asist ve 18 verimlilik puan\u0131yla m\u00fccadele etti. pic.twitter.com\/JIVC6116rH<\/a><\/p>\n