As the NBA offseason unfolds, several of the league’s premier talents, including Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic, have committed to participating in the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket, a tournament that promises intense competition among Europe’s elite basketball players. The presence of these superstars is expected to elevate the competition, drawing significant attention to the event.
Leading NBA Stars Shaping the 2025 EuroBasket Field
The 2025 FIBA EuroBasket will be hosted by Poland, Latvia, Cyprus, and Finland, setting the stage for an exciting basketball showcase. Poland’s national team, led by San Antonio Spurs’ Jeremy Sochan, finds itself in a challenging group alongside France, Slovenia, Israel, Belgium, and Iceland. Sochan’s performance will be crucial to Poland’s chances, especially given their surprising fourth-place finish in 2022.
Spain, the defending champions after their 88-76 victory over France in Berlin during the 2022 tournament, will rely heavily on Santi Aldama, who recently secured a three-year, $52.5 million contract with the Memphis Grizzlies. Alongside Aldama, Atlanta Hawks’ Eli John Ndiaye and veterans Juancho and Willy Hernangomez will be instrumental in Spain’s quest to repeat their success. Coach Sergio Scariola, possibly coaching in his last EuroBasket, brings experienced leadership to the team.
The French squad will experience notable absences with Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert out of the lineup. However, players like Alex Sarr and Guerschon Yabusele will attempt to fill the void in the paint. Washington Wizards’ Sarr is a promising player whose impact might help France maintain its status as a strong contender despite the missing stars.
Host Nation Stars and Emerging Contenders to Watch
Finland’s team benefits from the commitment of former NBA All-Star Lauri Markkanen, who expressed the pride he feels representing his country. Facing a tough pool with Lithuania, Sweden, Great Britain, Montenegro, and world champion Germany, Finland will depend on Markkanen’s best form, particularly after a challenging season with the Utah Jazz.
Latvia also stands out as a host nation with Kristaps Porzingis leading the charge. Former NBA players Davis and Dairis Bertans will support Porzingis as they aim to advance beyond the group stage, where Serbia is favored to top Group A. Porzingis’s matchups with players like Turkey’s Alperen Sengun and Portugal’s Neemias Queta will be key to Latvia’s advancement.
Alperen Sengun, Turkey’s top player and an NBA All-Star, emerged on the international scene during the 2022 EuroBasket, leading Turkey to the round of 16 where they narrowly lost to France in overtime. Sengun hopes to improve Turkey’s performance this time, bringing versatility to his team.
Germany, led by Franz Wagner along with NBA veterans Dennis Schroder and Tristan da Silva, are considered serious dark horses for the title. As reigning World Cup champions, Germany enters the tournament favored in Group B, which includes Lithuania, Montenegro, Great Britain, Sweden, and host Finland. After finishing fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Germany is eager to progress further this year.
Veteran Leaders Returning to Boost Their Nations
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Greece to an undefeated 5-0 record in the elimination round of the previous EuroBasket before advancing to the quarterfinals. For 2025, the two-time NBA MVP returns to guide Greece alongside Kostas Papanikolaou, Tyler Dorsey, and his brother Kostas Antetokounmpo, aiming to improve on last tournament‘s outcome.
Serbia’s Nikola Jokic, known as “The Joker,” experienced a disappointing loss to Italy in the 2022 EuroBasket round of 16 despite his stellar individual performance of 32 points and 13 rebounds. Determined to redeem that setback, Jokic will lead Serbia with the hope of achieving a deeper run in the 2025 competition.
Luka Doncic’s Anticipated Role and Slovenia’s Prospects
Luka Doncic remains one of the most captivating players to watch, and his participation in the 2025 EuroBasket is generating even more buzz than before. The Los Angeles Lakers point guard will enter the tournament showcasing his new, impressive physique, recently highlighted in Men’s Health magazine. Slovenia’s team performed strongly in the 2022 EuroBasket with a 4-0 record in pool play, including a thrilling 88-82 victory over France. However, their journey ended abruptly in the round of 16 against Poland. Doncic aims to lead Slovenia to a much stronger finish and hopes to overcome the disappointment of that early exit.
Overall Impact of NBA Talent on EuroBasket 2025
The commitment of NBA stars like Doncic, Antetokounmpo, and Jokic to EuroBasket 2025 ensures that this tournament will be fiercely competitive and highly watched. Their leadership and skill will inspire their national teams and increase the tournament’s profile worldwide. Along with them, emerging talents such as Jeremy Sochan and Alex Sarr, as well as dedicated veterans like Lauri Markkanen and Kristaps Porzingis, will shape the event’s narrative.
The tournament’s host nations bring additional excitement, as fans hope home-court advantage will boost teams like Poland, Finland, and Latvia. With well-balanced groups and many storylines involving NBA and local stars alike, the EuroBasket 2025 promises memorable matchups and intense action that could influence international basketball for years to come.
“it is always an honor to put on the Finland jersey.”
—Lauri Markkanen, Former NBA All-Star