Franz Wagner and Germany look to extend their 2023 FIBA World Cup success during this new quest to reign supreme in the 2025 EuroBasket Although the powerhouse known as Team USA won\u2019t be an opponent to worry about, Wagner will still have to go against some of the NBA\u2019s best. Specifically, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic, both of whom have earned high levels of respect from Wagner.<\/p>\n
European players take the privilege to represent their nation extremely seriously. Unlike the American national team in the 2025 AmeriCup, which has no active NBA player, some of the biggest European NBA stars<\/a> were more than happy to suit up for their country.<\/p>\n Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic are arguably three of the top five players in the NBA, all participating in the EuroBasket. Needless to say, Wagner<\/a> will have his work cut out for him over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n Before the start of the tournament, Wagner sat down with Eurohoops for an exclusive interview, where he talked about what it was like like to compete against a player as great as Doncic. Wagner does so in the NBA and during international competition and was happy to reveal what made Luka so special.<\/p>\n \u201cI think there\u2019s a few players in the world that are as versatile or can manipulate the game as well as he does offensively,\u201d Wagner said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Very few players are as tough a cover as Doncic <\/a>is. The five-time All-NBA First Team member doesn\u2019t have the ball-handling ability as some other players, his former teammate Kyrie Irving for instance. But he will use his pace to find just a single gap and more often than not, it is enough.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t just guard him with one player. You have to switch up the looks that you give and also be okay with him making some tough looks,\u201d Wagner added.<\/p>\n Some of that criteria also applies to Jokic, but Wagner doesn\u2019t believe it is what necessarily makes the three-time MVP special. The Orlando Magic star believes one specific element in both Doncic and Jokic\u2019s game that sets them apart from the rest of the herd.<\/p>\n \u201cI think what makes them special is that they\u2019re most tough to guard when they\u2019re passing,\u201d Wagner revealed. \u201cBut at the same time, they can pretty much score one-on-one every time.\u201d<\/p>\n