RIGA → LIMASSOL → TAMPERE → KATOWICE
This summer, 24 European teams will chase gold not under the NBA lights, but under the shared spotlight of FIBA’s EuroBasket 2025. Among them, some of basketball’s brightest luminaries, NBA superstars, who will cross borders once more, blending league legacy with national duty. Here’s a front-row look at who’s suiting up, what they bring, and what it means for the global game.
Towering Talent: The NBA Faces Leading the Charge
At the peak stand names that need no introduction. Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Luka Dončić arrive as EuroBasket’s heavyweight trio, each with a unique flavor of dominance and legacy.
(AS.com summary, NBC Sports)
- Jokić, Serbia’s MVP maestro, brings visionary playmaking and court control.
- Giannis, Greece’s titan, seeks his first Euro medal, even after carrying his squad to the top of scoring charts in previous tournaments.
- Doncic, who already claimed EuroBasket glory in 2017, returns as the undisputed architect of Slovenia’s offense.
(AS.com note)
Expect them not just to play but to lead Europe’s most compelling basketball narrative this summer.
A Global Cast of NBA Contributors by Country
EuroBasket 2025 is a global stage with NBA-linked rosters stacked across the continent:
Group A Highlights
- Serbia brings the star trio of Jokić, Bogdan Bogdanović, and Nikola Jović.
- Turkey boasts Rockets center Alperen Şengün, Adem Bona, and former NBA contributors like Cedi Osman.
- Czechia, Latvia, and Portugal round out the group, each featuring NBA names from their ranks.
(NBA.com roster breakdown, Houston Chronicle report)
Group B Highlights
- Germany leans on Dennis Schröder, Franz Wagner, and Tristan da Silva to go deep.
- Finland fields Lauri Markkanen.
- Montenegro counts Nikola Vučević among its pillars.
(NBA.com)
Group C Major Names
- Slovenia is Luka’s squad, arguably built to flow through him.
- Greece depends on Giannis, with support from his brother Thanasis.
- Spain, working through rebuild, includes Santi Aldama and Eli John Ndiaye.
(NBA.com, Rosters info)
Group D Power and Hope
- France reloads with promising NBA talents like Bilal Coulibaly, Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Guerschon Yabusele even without Victor Wembanyama.
- Israel taps Deni Avdija and emerging guard Ben Saraf.
- Slovenia, George, and others round out deep rosters across the bracket.
(NBA.com, The Athletic previews)
Game Changers: Top Players to Watch and What They Bring
Here’s a look at standout NBA stars who could define tournament momentum:
- Jokić (Serbia): Coming off jaw-dropping back-to-back MVP seasons (29.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 10.2 APG), he’s expected to orchestrate like no center ever has.
- Giannis (Greece): A scoring colossus, Olympic-leading scorer, and previous EuroBasket stat king, his versatility is unmatched.
- Doncic (Slovenia): The scoring genius whose international form always doubles as box-office.
- Others to watch: Schröder, Markkanen, Porziņģis, Jović, Aldama, and more, each contributing flair, camp-level execution, or defensive firepower.
(ESPN top 10 list, NBC Sports 13 to watch)
EuroBasket’s Stage and Stakes
The tournament runs from August 27 to September 14, splitting game duties across Latvia, Finland, Cyprus, and Poland. Group C’s action unfolds in Limassol, Cyprus, with knockout rounds culminating in Riga, Latvia.
(CBS Sports schedule, FIBA’s official site)
Spain, defending their 2022 crown, carries a retooled roster headlined by Santi Aldama, with a mix of fresh faces and veterans like the Hernangómez brothers.
(AS roster overview)
Final Thought: A Global Story Written in Real Time
EuroBasket 2025 isn’t just an international competition; it’s a showcase of basketball’s global culture, crossing paths with NBA grandeur. Here, pre-season meets patriotism, and futures meet legacies on crowded courts in Riga and beyond.
This is where global stars aren’t guarded; they’re alive, human, striving for countries, for fans, for moments that transcend leagues.
