Top 10 Basketball Stars to Watch at EuroBasket 2025

EuroBasket 2025 has commenced, with 24 nations vying for the title of European basketball champions. The tournament features a significant presence of NBA talent, as 15 participating countries include players from the league. While superstars like Luka Dončić (Slovenia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), and Nikola Jokić (Serbia) are clear headliners, numerous other players across various rosters are also deserving of close observation.

From established league stars and emerging superstars to promising young talents, this year`s EuroBasket offers a diverse array of players worth watching. With the NBA season still two months away, the tournament provides a prime opportunity to witness the improvements and off-season work these players have put in.

As the action unfolds, here are 10 players who demand attention at EuroBasket 2025.

1. Luka Dončić, Slovenia

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Luka Dončić is expected to draw significant attention, primarily due to public interest in his recent physical transformation. Having focused on health and nutrition over the summer, he appears noticeably slimmer. His performance in Slovenia`s warm-up game against Latvia, where he scored 26 points in the first half, suggests he`s poised for a dominant tournament. Already considered a top-five NBA player despite past conditioning concerns, his newfound dedication to fitness hints at a potential MVP-caliber NBA season. His EuroBasket showing will offer early insights into this. While Slovenia might lack the deep high-level talent of teams like Serbia, France, or Germany, Dončić has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to carry his team far on his exceptional skills.

2. Nikola Jokić, Serbia

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The three-time NBA MVP, Nikola Jokić, aims to guide Serbia to a gold medal, following a disappointing ninth-place finish in the 2022 tournament. Jokić previously led Serbia to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics last summer. With much of that core roster returning, Serbia is a strong favorite to win EuroBasket. Jokić`s dominance is undeniable on any stage; despite having an NBA championship, he has yet to achieve the ultimate international success with Serbia. This tournament could be his chance to secure that coveted gold.

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece

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For Giannis Antetokounmpo, this EuroBasket might represent his prime opportunity to secure significant hardware in the near future, unless a trade request materializes in the coming months. While this assessment might seem pessimistic, even within a less dominant Eastern Conference, the Bucks haven`t appeared poised for a deep playoff run. However, the Greek national team is a different story, built entirely around Giannis`s extraordinary talents, with no player in the tournament truly capable of stopping him. Greece holds the fourth-best odds to win, and with Antetokounmpo leading the charge, they are certainly a team not to be underestimated.

4. Kristaps Porziņģis, Latvia

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Kristaps Porziņģis returns to EuroBasket after his memorable 2017 appearance, where he famously battled a then-unknown Luka Dončić, whose Slovenia team ultimately defeated Latvia in the quarterfinals en route to winning the championship. Despite that impressive duel, injuries have since sidelined the Latvian star from international competitions. Now, healthy and with Latvia co-hosting the tournament, Porziņģis is set to shine as the central figure for a team that boasts the sixth-best odds to win the title. Witnessing Porziņģis perform before a home crowd will be a captivating experience, especially with a solid supporting cast that includes former NBA player Dāvis Bertāns.

5. Alperen Sengun, Türkiye

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Alperen Sengun enters EuroBasket on the heels of a career-best season with the Rockets, likely buoyed by the prospect of playing alongside Kevin Durant in the upcoming NBA season. Beyond that, Sengun is a burgeoning young star, a versatile center capable of consistently delivering 20 points and 10 rebounds. He`s frequently drawn comparisons to Nikola Jokić for his game-altering impact through both scoring and playmaking, qualities that should be fully showcased with the Turkish national team. It will be intriguing to observe the extent to which Türkiye`s offense flows through him and how much he has evolved as a shot creator for both himself and his teammates. The group stage matchup between Sengun`s Türkiye and Jokić`s Serbia promises a fascinating “master vs. apprentice” dynamic.

6. Franz Wagner, Germany

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Franz Wagner has consistently demonstrated growth when representing Germany, with these improvements invariably translating to his NBA performance. In 2022, after his rookie year, he helped Germany secure a bronze medal at EuroBasket, which then fueled his development into a more efficient scorer for the Magic in his sophomore season. He followed this by becoming a world champion at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where Germany defeated Serbia in the final. His subsequent NBA season saw him help lead the Magic to their first playoff berth in three years. Despite Germany`s loss to Serbia in the 2024 Olympic bronze medal game, Wagner earned All-Second Team honors, and subsequently achieved career-high statistics across the board last season, attracting All-Star consideration with Orlando. We can anticipate an even further elevated version of Wagner at EuroBasket, potentially propelling him towards an All-Star selection next season for a Magic team expected to exceed expectations.

7. Lauri Markkanen, Finland

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Lauri Markkanen has arguably been the most outstanding player in the lead-up to EuroBasket. He delivered a spectacular 48-point performance in an exhibition game against Belgium and scored over 40 points on another occasion, contributing to Finland`s perfect 4-0 record in warm-up matches. After three seasons with the Utah Jazz, Markkanen enters the upcoming NBA season as a significant trade candidate, should the Jazz decide to pursue that option. A dominant showing at EuroBasket would undoubtedly boost his trade value, potentially paving the way for him to join a contending team – a first in his NBA career.

8. Zaccharie Risacher, France

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Zaccharie Risacher could emerge as the tournament`s breakout star. With both Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert absent from the French squad, Risacher is poised to become one of the team`s primary offensive options. He concluded his rookie season with the Hawks strongly, already showcasing immense potential as a lockdown defender. While his offensive game developed slowly, he still secured second place in Rookie of the Year voting. EuroBasket offers an excellent platform to observe his off-season improvements; if his development is ahead of schedule, the Hawks could prove to be a surprise team in the Eastern Conference next season.

9. Alex Sarr, France

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Like Risacher, Alex Sarr`s rookie season displayed significant defensive promise, though his offensive game remained somewhat unpolished. Sarr finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and earned All-Rookie honors, with his production seeing a notable increase after the All-Star break as the Wizards encouraged him to take on a larger scoring role. Both he and Risacher are making their debut for France`s senior national team at EuroBasket, providing Sarr with a substantial opportunity to demonstrate his summer development. The Wizards will be hoping for improved offensive efficiency that can translate into a stronger performance for Washington next season.

10. Bilal Coulibaly, France

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Among France`s trio of promising young NBA players, Bilal Coulibaly was the sole one to secure a spot on the Olympic roster last summer. He played in five games, delivering his strongest performance in the gold-medal match against the United States, where he contributed six points in 21 minutes. This time, with veterans Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier absent, Coulibaly is expected to take on a significantly expanded role. This presents a key opportunity to assess how the 2023 lottery pick performs with increased responsibility. Following a promising year with the Wizards, his performance with France could serve as an encouraging indicator for what`s to come in a crucial third season for the young forward.