Need to Knows
- EuroBasket 2025 tips off Wednesday across Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia, running through Sept. 14.
- Victor Wembanyama is sidelined for France while recovering from deep vein thrombosis surgery.
- The tournament still boasts major NBA names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, and Nikola Jokić.
- France enters with the deepest roster of NBA talent despite missing Wembanyama.
EuroBasket 2025 Opens Without Wembanyama
EuroBasket 2025 begins Wednesday, bringing together 24 nations and dozens of NBA players for Europe’s premier basketball championship. The tournament runs through Sept. 14, with games hosted in Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia.
One of the biggest storylines entering the competition is the absence of French superstar Victor Wembanyama. The San Antonio Spurs’ phenom is still recovering from surgery following a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis that ended his second NBA season in February. Even without him, France leads all countries in NBA representation, showcasing the depth of European basketball’s rising influence on the league.
NBA Stars Leading Their Countries
Despite Wembanyama’s absence, EuroBasket will feature a long list of headline talent:
- Greece: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Slovenia: Luka Dončić (Los Angeles Lakers)
- Serbia: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets)
- Latvia: Kristaps Porziņģis (Atlanta Hawks)
- Germany: Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic)
- Italy: Donte DiVincenzo (Minnesota Timberwolves), Simone Fontecchio (Miami Heat)
- Lithuania: Jonas Valančiūnas (Denver Nuggets)
- Montenegro: Nikola Vučević (Chicago Bulls)
- Türkiye: Alperen Şengün (Houston Rockets), Adem Bona (Philadelphia 76ers)
- France: Bilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards), Zaccharie Risacher (Atlanta Hawks), Alex Sarr (Washington Wizards), Guerschon Yabusele (New York Knicks)
- Finland: Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
Nearly every roster features NBA talent, underscoring the league’s growing international pipeline.
EuroBasket 2025 Is Coming Up
With international stars increasingly shaping the NBA’s future, EuroBasket has become more than a continental tournament—it’s a global showcase. Past editions have elevated players like Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kristaps Porziņģis into international household names.
This year, the spotlight will be on whether Greece, Slovenia, or Serbia can ride their MVP-caliber superstars to a title—or if France’s deep roster can overcome the loss of Wembanyama to reclaim European dominance.
