The 2025 edition of EuroBasket commences on Wednesday (27 August) with the tournament being co-hosted by Latvia, Finland, Cyprus, and Poland.
24 nations will battle it out in a bid to be crowned European champions and as in previous editions, the tournament will be held in four different countries. Tampere (Finland),Limassol (Cyprus), Katowice (Poland) and Riga (Latvia) with the competition running from August 27 to September 4.
Each group is made up of six teams, with the top four advancing to the knockout stages. The knockout stages of the round of 16 (September 6 and 7), quarterfinals (September 9 and 10), semifinals (September 12), and the grand final and bronze medal match (September 14) will begin in the Latvian capital.
Eurobasket Groups
Group A (Riga): Latvia, Estonia, Turkey, Portugal, Serbia and the Czech Republic
Group B (Tampere): Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, Sweden and Montenegro
Group C (Limassol): Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Greece, Georgia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group D (Katowice): Poland, France, Slovenia, Iceland, Belgium and Israel
Serbia have been tipped as the team to beat with reigning champions Spain in a period of transition. There will be a solid showing of top class talent on display with approximately 19 NBA stars expected to participate at the tournament.
Who to look out for at Eurobasket 2025? Luka Doncic: LA Lakers & Slovenia
Doncic is officially on Slovenia’s final 12-man roster for the tournament and joined the national team camp after signing his contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The NBA star has played in several exhibition games leading up to the tournament, with a notable performance against Great Britain where he scored 28 points and had 10 assists. He showed no lingering effects from a minor knee injury he sustained earlier in the preparation period but the team struggled recently winning only one of their six warm-up matches. Despite their team’s struggles, Doncic is expected to be the focal point and leader, particularly since they are without some key players like Vlatko Cancar.
Slovenia’s entire strategy revolves around Doncic. He is expected to be the tournament’s leading scorer and playmaker, with the ability to single-handedly carry the team.
Slovenia’s Luka Doncic gesturesANDREJ CUKICGiannis Antetokounmpo: Bucks and Greece
Antetokounmpo is the centerpiece of the Greek team and is the clear leader of the team, which is coached by the legendary Vassilis Spanoulis.
The Bucks star has been active in the preparation games, though his playing time has been managed. In a friebdly game against Latvia, he had a dominant performance, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in just over 15 minutes of play. In the final warm-up game against France, he scored 20 points in 21 minutes.
Greece have been placed in a challenging group that also includes Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and reigning champions Spain. Giannis’s presence makes Greece a outside tip for the championship and with a healthy and motivated Giannis, they are considered a strong contender to make a deep run in the tournament.
Kristaps Porzingis: Atlanta Hawks & Latvia
The 7ft 2in. Porzingis will be looking to impress for his home nation with Latvia is one of the host nations for the tournament’s group stage.
The tournament marks his return to the national team after missing the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to a foot injury, a tournament where Latvia had a historic fifth-place finish.
The Atlanta Hawks power forward has been a key player for the Baltic nation in the team’s warm-up games and he was impressive in the recent warm-up game against Slovenia showcasing his abilities against fellow NBA star Luka Doncic.
The Latvians were already a surprise success story at the last World Cup, and with their star player back, they are considered a dark horse contender to make a deep run, especially with the home-court advantage.
Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia celebrates AnadoluNikola Jokic: Denver Nuggets & Serbia
Nikola Jokić is expected to be one of the difference makers at EuroBasket and the Nuggets player is the centerpiece of the team, which also features other NBA players like Bogdan Bogdanović and Nikola Kusturica
Boosting their confidence ahead of the tournament, Serbia recorded had a perfect 7-0 record in their exhibition games leading up to the tournament. In a highly anticipated warm-up match against Slovenia, Serbia, led by a dominant Jokić, outclassed Doncic’s team with a 106-72 scoreline.
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Following their recent bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Serbia are considered as favourites for the title at EuroBasket 2025 with coach Svetislav Pešić reportedly adapted the team’s playbook to maximize Jokić’s unique skills.
Other NBA stars in action at EuroBasket 2025Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) for GermanyAlperen Şengün (Houston Rockets) for TürkiyeJonas Valančiūnas (Denver Nuggets) for LithuaniaLauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz) for FinlandDeni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers) for IsraelNikola Vučević (Chicago Bulls) for MontenegroBogdan Bogdanović (Los Angeles Clippers) for SerbiaSanti Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies) for SpainDennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings) for GermanySimone Fontecchio (Miami Heat) for ItalyBilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards) for FranceZaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks) for FranceAlexandre Sarr (Washington Wizards) for FranceJusuf Nurkić (Utah Jazz) for Bosnia and HerzegovinaGoga Bitadze (Orlando Magic) and Sandro Mamukelashvili (Toronto Raptors) for Georgia
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