EuroBasket 2025 offers NBA fans a premier international basketball spectacle, featuring 24 teams from across Europe competing from August 27 to September 14. This year's tournament includes the French and Serbian squads that Team USA previously defeated in the 2024 Olympics, alongside many other national teams boasting significant NBA talent. The overlap between the NBA and EuroBasket has never been more pronounced, with heavyweights such as Serbia, Germany, France, Greece, and Slovenia fielding multiple NBA stars on their rosters. The tournament provides a unique opportunity to witness these international stars in competitive action ahead of the upcoming NBA season, with player performance at EuroBasket offering insights into their potential impact in the league.

The tournament structure involves 24 teams divided into four groups of six. The top four teams from each group will advance to a 16-team knockout round. Group play is hosted by Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, and Poland, while the entire knockout phase, culminating in the championship, will take place in Riga, Latvia. All games are broadcast on DAZN, with the championship game scheduled for September 14, just two weeks before NBA training camps commence.

A comprehensive ranking of the Top 10 NBA players participating in EuroBasket 2025 provides a guide to the expected star power, based on projected performance for the 2025-26 NBA season using estimated RAPTOR metrics and a simple projection system accounting for age and past production. These projections offer a clear idea of who is poised to headline the tournament.

1. Nikola Jokić (Serbia): At 30 years old, the Denver Nuggets star is projected with a plus-8.2 overall RAPTOR and is the undisputed top talent. Jokić, who has held the highest RAPTOR for five consecutive NBA seasons, leads a Serbian squad that is a heavy favorite to win the tournament. Serbia is highly motivated, particularly after blowing a 13-point lead against the United States in the Olympic semifinal. A EuroBasket victory would be a significant addition to Jokić's already extensive hardware, as Serbia last won the event in 2001, and he was not part of the team that reached the 2017 final.

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece): The 31-year-old Milwaukee Bucks forward is projected with a plus-5.7 overall RAPTOR. Antetokounmpo has consistently been a top MVP candidate in the NBA. Individually, he is expected to dominate, having averaged 25.8 points at the last Olympics and 29.3 PPG at EuroBasket 2022. However, Greece's team success has been moderate in recent international tournaments, despite winning the event in 2005. Antetokounmpo was notably rested in a group stage game against Bosnia and Herzegovina due to knee discomfort, a game Greece lost 80-77, their first defeat in the tournament, though he was expected to return for subsequent matches.

3. Luka Dončić (Slovenia): The 26-year-old Los Angeles Lakers guard is projected with a plus-5.2 overall RAPTOR. Dončić's participation is a major draw, especially following his much-discussed summer body transformation. A consistent fixture on the international stage since winning gold with Slovenia in 2017 at age 17, Dončić continues to be a driving force for his national team. Slovenia, which follows Serbia, Germany, and France on the odds board, secured a spot in the knockout stage after Dončić scored 26 points in an 87-79 victory over Iceland. He also led Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals after a midseason trade to the Lakers.

4. Franz Wagner (Germany): The 24-year-old Orlando Magic forward is projected with a plus-4.0 overall RAPTOR. Wagner has consistently featured on RAPTOR-based lists and is coming off his best NBA season despite an oblique injury. He boasts significant international success, including bronze at EuroBasket 2022, gold at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and a fourth-place finish at last year's Olympics. Germany holds the second-best odds to win EuroBasket 2025, largely due to Wagner's leadership.

5. Alperen Şengün (Turkey): The 23-year-old Houston Rockets center is projected with a plus-2.4 overall RAPTOR. Şengün has openly expressed his ambition to win both EuroBasket 2025 and an NBA championship with the Rockets. This tournament represents one of his highest-profile international events, offering a platform to showcase developments in his shooting ability, a key area for improvement after hitting only 23.3% from downtown last season.

6. Kristaps Porziņģis (Latvia): The 30-year-old Atlanta Hawks center is projected with a plus-2.2 overall RAPTOR. Following a successful stint that contributed to the Boston Celtics' 2024 NBA title, Porziņģis returns to EuroBasket after nearly a decade. He previously impressed in 2017, averaging 23.6 points for Latvia. As the main host country for EuroBasket 2025, Latvia is expected to benefit from a home-court advantage, potentially boosting Porziņģis's performance.

7. Lauri Markkanen (Finland): The 28-year-old Utah Jazz forward is projected with a plus-1.3 overall RAPTOR. Markkanen, who was confirmed to Finland's roster, needs a bounce-back season after experiencing drops in his metrics. His strong performance in pre-tournament friendlies, including 42 points and 12 rebounds against Poland, indicates high motivation for the tournament.

8. Deni Avdija (Israel): The 25-year-old Portland Trail Blazers forward is projected with a plus-1.1 overall RAPTOR and is considered possibly the most underrated player at EuroBasket. Avdija had a breakout NBA season after a trade to Portland, achieving career highs in multiple categories. He has a history of big international performances, notably as MVP of the 2019 FIBA U20 European Championship. He led Israel to the final 16 with 22 points in a 92-89 win over Belgium, following a 23-point effort in a stunning 82-69 victory against Paris Olympics silver medalist France.

9. Santi Aldama (Spain): The 25-year-old Memphis Grizzlies forward is projected with a plus-0.9 overall RAPTOR. Spain, the defending champions, is undergoing a transition. Aldama, along with Willy and Juancho Hernangómez, is a leader of the next generation of Spanish stars. He was one of the most improved players in the NBA last season, showcasing a versatile offensive skillset, though Spain is expected to face a challenge in retaining its EuroBasket crown.

10. Neemias Queta (Portugal): The 26-year-old Boston Celtics center is projected with a plus-0.2 overall RAPTOR. Queta, despite a limited sample size, has shown promise in the NBA. EuroBasket 2025 provides a valuable opportunity for him to further develop his game on a high-level international stage.

Other NBA players to watch include Nikola Vučević (Montenegro), Dennis Schröder (Germany), Guerschon Yabusele (France), Bogdan Bogdanović (Serbia), Pelle Larsson (Sweden), and Luka Garza (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The tournament has already seen several notable group stage results. Germany achieved a significant 120-57 victory over Great Britain, a 107-88 win over Lithuania, and a 105-83 win over Sweden, assuring them a spot in the Round of 16. Serbia secured wins against Estonia (98-64), Portugal (80-69), and Latvia (84-80). Finland defeated Sweden (93-90) and Great Britain (109-79) but fell to Lithuania (81-78). Israel advanced to the final 16 with victories over Iceland (83-71), France (82-69), and Belgium (92-89). Slovenia also reached the knockout stage after beating Iceland (87-79) and Belgium (86-69), despite a 105-95 loss to Poland. Greece defeated Italy (75-66) and Cyprus (96-69) but suffered a setback against Bosnia and Herzegovina (80-77).

A concerning incident occurred during Germany's victory over Lithuania, where German captain Dennis Schröder faced racial abuse. Two individuals were identified and ejected from the arena in Tampere, Finland, with one fan subsequently banned from the rest of the tournament by FIBA officials. Schröder, who scored a game-high 26 points in the match, expressed his strong condemnation of the racist behavior, stating,