OT : Eurobasket 2025 semifinals | Türkiye vs Greece | & | Finland vs Germany |

[Mirotic12]

Should be a good one to follow. In between NBA games, Summer League, local leagues
and some minor FIBA tourneys, it’s good news to see some competitive high-level basketball in this “offseason” (basketball has no offseason, don’t kid ourselves)

How in the world is the EuroBasket a "minor" FIBA tourney?

[durden_tyler]

Should be a good one to follow. In between NBA games, Summer League, local leagues
and some minor FIBA tourneys, it’s good news to see some competitive high-level basketball in this “offseason” (basketball has no offseason, don’t kid ourselves)

How in the world is the EuroBasket a "minor" FIBA tourney?

Oh how paranoid you are, i was referring to the other FIBA leagues that ran so far-- watched a few of the FIBA Asia Women's games recently. Yes it's offseason, we devour anything basketball despite the low quality, low stakes. LOL

[-Luke-]

Hartenstein again not playing for Germany. Problems with achilles tendon. Mo Wagner wasn't expected to play anyway because of his ACL rupture.

Preliminary 16 man roster:

– Christian Anderson jr. (Texas Tech Univerity (USA)
– Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrad/SRB)
– Oscar Da Silva (FC Bayern München)
– Tristan Da Silva (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern München)
– David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP)
– Leon Kratzer (FC Bayern München)
– Maodo Lo (zuletzt Paris Basketballl/FRA)
– Andreas Obst (FC Bayern München)
– Tim Schneider (Veltex Shizuoka/JPN)
– Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings/USA)
– Daniel Theis (zuletzt AS Monaco/FRA)
– Johannes Thiemann (Gunma Crane Thunders/JPN)
– Johannes Voigtmann (FC Bayern München)
– Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm ulm)

Edit:
Here is a list that is constantly updated with all the (preliminary) rosters: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/roster-tracker-who-is-playing-at-fiba-eurobasket-2025

[junot111]

Hartenstein again not playing for Germany. Problems with achilles tendon. Mo Wagner wasn't expected to play anyway because of his ACL rupture.

Preliminary 16 man roster:

– Christian Anderson jr. (Texas Tech Univerity (USA)
– Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrad/SRB)
– Oscar Da Silva (FC Bayern München)
– Tristan Da Silva (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern München)
– David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP)
– Leon Kratzer (FC Bayern München)
– Maodo Lo (zuletzt Paris Basketballl/FRA)
– Andreas Obst (FC Bayern München)
– Tim Schneider (Veltex Shizuoka/JPN)
– Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings/USA)
– Daniel Theis (zuletzt AS Monaco/FRA)
– Johannes Thiemann (Gunma Crane Thunders/JPN)
– Johannes Voigtmann (FC Bayern München)
– Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm ulm)

Edit:
Here is a list that is constantly updated with all the (preliminary) rosters: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/roster-tracker-who-is-playing-at-fiba-eurobasket-2025

Da Silva is German?

[Mavrelous]

Hartenstein again not playing for Germany. Problems with achilles tendon. Mo Wagner wasn't expected to play anyway because of his ACL rupture.

Preliminary 16 man roster:

– Christian Anderson jr. (Texas Tech Univerity (USA)
– Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrad/SRB)
– Oscar Da Silva (FC Bayern München)
– Tristan Da Silva (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern München)
– David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP)
– Leon Kratzer (FC Bayern München)
– Maodo Lo (zuletzt Paris Basketballl/FRA)
– Andreas Obst (FC Bayern München)
– Tim Schneider (Veltex Shizuoka/JPN)
– Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings/USA)
– Daniel Theis (zuletzt AS Monaco/FRA)
– Johannes Thiemann (Gunma Crane Thunders/JPN)
– Johannes Voigtmann (FC Bayern München)
– Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm ulm)

Edit:
Here is a list that is constantly updated with all the (preliminary) rosters: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/roster-tracker-who-is-playing-at-fiba-eurobasket-2025

That's a strong roster, second behind Serbia probably .

[-Luke-]

Hartenstein again not playing for Germany. Problems with achilles tendon. Mo Wagner wasn't expected to play anyway because of his ACL rupture.

Preliminary 16 man roster:

– Christian Anderson jr. (Texas Tech Univerity (USA)
– Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrad/SRB)
– Oscar Da Silva (FC Bayern München)
– Tristan Da Silva (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern München)
– David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP)
– Leon Kratzer (FC Bayern München)
– Maodo Lo (zuletzt Paris Basketballl/FRA)
– Andreas Obst (FC Bayern München)
– Tim Schneider (Veltex Shizuoka/JPN)
– Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings/USA)
– Daniel Theis (zuletzt AS Monaco/FRA)
– Johannes Thiemann (Gunma Crane Thunders/JPN)
– Johannes Voigtmann (FC Bayern München)
– Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm ulm)

Edit:
Here is a list that is constantly updated with all the (preliminary) rosters: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/roster-tracker-who-is-playing-at-fiba-eurobasket-2025

Da Silva is German?

Yes, the Da Silva brothers have a Brazilian father and a German mother. They were born and raised in Munich/Germany.

[SpreeS]

Hartenstein again not playing for Germany. Problems with achilles tendon. Mo Wagner wasn't expected to play anyway because of his ACL rupture.

Preliminary 16 man roster:

– Christian Anderson jr. (Texas Tech Univerity (USA)
– Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrad/SRB)
– Oscar Da Silva (FC Bayern München)
– Tristan Da Silva (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern München)
– David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP)
– Leon Kratzer (FC Bayern München)
– Maodo Lo (zuletzt Paris Basketballl/FRA)
– Andreas Obst (FC Bayern München)
– Tim Schneider (Veltex Shizuoka/JPN)
– Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings/USA)
– Daniel Theis (zuletzt AS Monaco/FRA)
– Johannes Thiemann (Gunma Crane Thunders/JPN)
– Johannes Voigtmann (FC Bayern München)
– Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm ulm)

Edit:
Here is a list that is constantly updated with all the (preliminary) rosters: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/roster-tracker-who-is-playing-at-fiba-eurobasket-2025

That's a strong roster, second behind Serbia probably .

TOP3 Serbia/France/Germany

Spain/Italy/Greece/Turkey/Lithuania/Slovenia

[UcanUwill]

Hartenstein again not playing for Germany. Problems with achilles tendon. Mo Wagner wasn't expected to play anyway because of his ACL rupture.

Preliminary 16 man roster:

– Christian Anderson jr. (Texas Tech Univerity (USA)
– Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrad/SRB)
– Oscar Da Silva (FC Bayern München)
– Tristan Da Silva (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern München)
– David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP)
– Leon Kratzer (FC Bayern München)
– Maodo Lo (zuletzt Paris Basketballl/FRA)
– Andreas Obst (FC Bayern München)
– Tim Schneider (Veltex Shizuoka/JPN)
– Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings/USA)
– Daniel Theis (zuletzt AS Monaco/FRA)
– Johannes Thiemann (Gunma Crane Thunders/JPN)
– Johannes Voigtmann (FC Bayern München)
– Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm ulm)

Edit:
Here is a list that is constantly updated with all the (preliminary) rosters: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/roster-tracker-who-is-playing-at-fiba-eurobasket-2025

How good is Kramer, I was very surprised when Real Madrid signed him, is he that good?

[Mirotic12]

Greece, as usual, starts off with a bunch of absences.

Ioannis Papapetrou
Nikos Rogkavopoulos
George Papagiannis
Nick Calathes
Thomas Walkup
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

No Walkup and no Calathes could actually be a blessing in disguise for Greece though. They are both so bad at scoring and shooting, that Greece plays 4 on 5 in half court offense, whenever they are on the court. And they both struggle bringing the ball up against good ball pressure.

Hopefully, with both of them out, Vassilis Toliopoulos, who was pretty much the best guard in EuroCup (2nd tier European league) the last two years, gets to take a bunch of their minutes.

No Thanasis could also be a good thing. If he's healthy, he always gets an automatic spot to keep Giannis happy. The same thing with Kostas being on the team always if he's healthy, also to keep Giannis happy.

With Thanasis being out, a roster spot opens up for a young player with potential to actually get a chance.

[Mirotic12]

This is just a guess, but I'm thinking the Greek roster will look something like this, if there are no more injuries. Supposedly, Kostas Sloukas might still drop out.

PG Kostas Sloukas / Vassilis Toliopoulos
SG Giannoulis Larentzakis / Tyler Dorsey
SF Kostas Papanikolaou / Panos Kalaitzakis
PF Dino Mitoglou / Nikos Chougkaz
C Giannis Antetokounmpo / Kostas Antetokounmpo

The last two roster spots might possibly be between Greece's three young prospects:

SF Neo Avdalas (point forward)
PF/C Alex Samodurov
C Vangelis Zougris

Maybe two of them make the team, as the 11th and 12th men.

I think Giannis would probably have to play center with Papagiannis being out. In theory, and on paper, that seems fine, but Greece has already tried using Giannis as a center twice before.

They tried experimenting with him as a center in two previous summers (2019 and 2022), and it just didn't work. Giannis struggled on defense in the paint against true bigs, and he also had problems keeping them off the offensive glass.

But he looks like he's a bit heavier now, maybe like around 5 kilos or so, like maybe 10 to 12 pounds. So maybe he could handle true bigs a bit better now.

I think he'll probably have to play center this time, because their other option would be to play Dino Mitoglou at the five. Mitoglou has the size and the body to do so, but he's too soft physically.

[CharityStripe34]

Sloukas fits better as does Toliopoulos. They can both shoot. Their high-screen game with Giannis should be more dangerous. His brother Kostas should be just fine as a rim-running big to soak up some defensive minutes and roam around the baseline for some easy dunks and putbacks.

[Mirotic12]

Sloukas fits better as does Toliopoulos. They can both shoot. Their high-screen game with Giannis should be more dangerous. His brother Kostas should be just fine as a rim-running big to soak up some defensive minutes and roam around the baseline for some easy dunks and putbacks.

Just about anything would fit better on offense than Walkup and Calathes, whom are probably the two worst shooters and scorers in EuroLeague at the point guard position.

However, defense is another matter entirely. Walkup is a great defender for the most part, although he's not quick enough for really small guards and not that great at chasing guys around screens.

Calathes used to be a really good defender and he used to be able to guard quick guards and chase guys around screens. Now, he's too slow to do that. But, he's still a good defender against two guards and small forwards.

Compared to Toliopoulos and Sloukas - Toliopoulos is fast and quick, so at least he can be matched with the small quick guards and he can chase guys off screens off the ball. He's not a horrible man defender against small guards, he's about average. His scoring and shooting ability is a plus over his level of defense. He can get more points than he gives up on defense.

But Sloukas...good God is he a horrific defender. Just horrible. The same with Dorsey. At the two position, Larentzakis is a great defender, but Dorsey is just downright a horrible defender.

If you have Dorsey and Sloukas on the floor at the same time, they absolutely must knock down shots and open up the floor. Because on defense they are so horribly bad. Both are in the running for being the worst defender in EuroLeague.

It would really help Greece if Toliopoulos and Larentzakis could provide the needed scoring and shooting (both are certainly more than capable of doing so, but they are streaky and inconsistent), because then Greece wouldn't have to play such horrific level defenders like Sloukas and Dorsey on key points of the games, just to have their shooting.

[CharityStripe34]

One could argue these days it's easier to hide bad defenders than poor shooters. Especially with FIBA rules where there is no defensive 3 seconds.

[UcanUwill]

While there is still time till Eurobasket, we can take a look at Eurobasket U18, that starts tomorrow
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u18-eurobasket-2025

Players to watch article
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-u18-eurobasket-2025/news/players-to-watch-who-are-the-future-stars-at-fiba-u18-eurobasket-2025

U18 MVPs since 2010 :

2010 Jonas Valančiūnas
2011 Álex Abrines
2012 Dario Šarić
2013 Kenan Sipahi
2014 Egemen Güven
2015 Vassilis Charalampopoulos
2016 Frank Ntilikina
2017 Nikola Mišković
2018 Marko Pecarski
2019 Santiago Aldama
2022 Izan Almansa
2023 Nikola Topić
2024 Ben Saraf

[BadaBoom]

Hartenstein again not playing for Germany. Problems with achilles tendon. Mo Wagner wasn't expected to play anyway because of his ACL rupture.

Preliminary 16 man roster:

– Christian Anderson jr. (Texas Tech Univerity (USA)
– Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrad/SRB)
– Oscar Da Silva (FC Bayern München)
– Tristan Da Silva (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern München)
– David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP)
– Leon Kratzer (FC Bayern München)
– Maodo Lo (zuletzt Paris Basketballl/FRA)
– Andreas Obst (FC Bayern München)
– Tim Schneider (Veltex Shizuoka/JPN)
– Dennis Schröder (Sacramento Kings/USA)
– Daniel Theis (zuletzt AS Monaco/FRA)
– Johannes Thiemann (Gunma Crane Thunders/JPN)
– Johannes Voigtmann (FC Bayern München)
– Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic/USA)
– Nelson Weidemann (ratiopharm ulm)

Edit:
Here is a list that is constantly updated with all the (preliminary) rosters: https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-eurobasket-2025/news/roster-tracker-who-is-playing-at-fiba-eurobasket-2025

That's a strong roster, second behind Serbia probably .

TOP3 Serbia/France/Germany

Spain/Italy/Greece/Turkey/Lithuania/Slovenia

Maybe i'm missing something but I don't think France has a real chance to compete at the top, I see Serbia really favorite with Germany not that far and then there is a real gap.

Regarding France, it's a whole different group of what we saw the last few years:
- Two main offensive forces are absent (Fournier and Wemby)
- Two major defensive forces are absent (Wemby and Gobert, however it's still pretty solid, especially at the wing)
- Locker room leaders are gone or absent (Batum retired and Fournier is absent)
- Vet floor leaders are all gone or absent (Batum + DeColo retired, Fournier and Gobert absent)
- Young team with very few seasoned vets (Yabusele, Poirier, Cordinier and Ntilikina come to my mind as solid contributors on previous international competitions and that's about it)
- New coach + complete new coaching staff

They lack experience, both as a group and as individuals and there is nobody that can put the offense on his shoulder to overcome the above shortcomings in an elimination game.
I think advancing to the semis would already be a nice accomplishment for this squad.

It should be a good and challenging experience for these players, with integration of young players with potential to become perennial contributors to this team.

[UcanUwill]

That's a strong roster, second behind Serbia probably .

TOP3 Serbia/France/Germany

Spain/Italy/Greece/Turkey/Lithuania/Slovenia

Maybe i'm missing something but I don't think France has a real chance to compete at the top, I see Serbia really favorite with Germany not that far and then there is a real gap.

Regarding France, it's a whole different group of what we saw the last few years:
- Two main offensive forces are absent (Fournier and Wemby)
- Two major defensive forces are absent (Wemby and Gobert, however it's still pretty solid, especially at the wing)
- Locker room leaders are gone or absent (Batum retired and Fournier is absent)
- Vet floor leaders are all gone or absent (Batum + DeColo retired, Fournier and Gobert absent)
- Young team with very few seasoned vets (Yabusele, Poirier, Cordinier and Ntilikina come to my mind as solid contributors on previous international competitions and that's about it)
- New coach + complete new coaching staff

They lack experience, both as a group and as individuals and there is nobody that can put the offense on his shoulder to overcome the above shortcomings in an elimination game.
I think advancing to the semis would already be a nice accomplishment for this squad.

It should be a good and challenging experience for these players, with integration of young players with potential to become perennial contributors to this team.

France still has some nice depth at every position. Francisco and Okobo didn't even make the team in the past, they surely has to make it now. They are probably the deepest team in the tournament, but I didn't know Fournier was not playing, without him and without Batum, it will be pretty hard, they do not really have superstar player that some other teams have (Luka, Giannis, Jokic, possibly Sengun, Franz etc.)

[Knightro]

My excitement for Eurobasket 2025 is going to come to a screeching halt about 3 minutes into Germany’s first game when it’s clear that Franz’s 3PT shot is still janky

[BadaBoom]

TOP3 Serbia/France/Germany

Spain/Italy/Greece/Turkey/Lithuania/Slovenia

Maybe i'm missing something but I don't think France has a real chance to compete at the top, I see Serbia really favorite with Germany not that far and then there is a real gap.

Regarding France, it's a whole different group of what we saw the last few years:
- Two main offensive forces are absent (Fournier and Wemby)
- Two major defensive forces are absent (Wemby and Gobert, however it's still pretty solid, especially at the wing)
- Locker room leaders are gone or absent (Batum retired and Fournier is absent)
- Vet floor leaders are all gone or absent (Batum + DeColo retired, Fournier and Gobert absent)
- Young team with very few seasoned vets (Yabusele, Poirier, Cordinier and Ntilikina come to my mind as solid contributors on previous international competitions and that's about it)
- New coach + complete new coaching staff

They lack experience, both as a group and as individuals and there is nobody that can put the offense on his shoulder to overcome the above shortcomings in an elimination game.
I think advancing to the semis would already be a nice accomplishment for this squad.

It should be a good and challenging experience for these players, with integration of young players with potential to become perennial contributors to this team.

France still has some nice depth at every position. Francisco and Okobo didn't even make the team in the past, they surely has to make it now. They are probably the deepest team in the tournament, but I didn't know Fournier was not playing, without him and without Batum, it will be pretty hard, they do not really have superstar player that some other teams have (Luka, Giannis, Jokic, possibly Sengun, Franz etc.)

I agree that the roaster is still pretty nice but it's too mild to overcome more seasoned teams with standout leaders as you mentionned.

Regarding the guards, there are 3 undersized guys - Hifi, Strazel, Francisco - and at least one of them will not make the cut.
I think it's lacking a real organizer/floor general that can cool the tempo when needed and can bring the ball up under pression without trying to blow by the defender each time. Maybe Maledon could be that guy?

Anyway, with the lack of natural/historical leaders, it will be interesting to see who will rise to the occasion and how the coaching staff will organize this balanced squad.

[UcanUwill]

I agree that the roaster is still pretty nice but it's too mild to overcome more seasoned teams with standout leaders as you mentionned.

Regarding the guards, there are 3 undersized guys - Hifi, Strazel, Francisco - and at least one of them will not make the cut.
I think it's lacking a real organizer/floor general that can cool the tempo when needed and can bring the ball up under pression without trying to blow by the defender each time. Maybe Maledon could be that guy?

Anyway, with the lack of natural/historical leaders, it will be interesting to see who will rise to the occasion and how the coaching staff will organize this balanced squad.

It is the same thing I made talking about betting odds, but it is one game series after group stage, many of these teams can make a run. Spain are defending champs and they didn't look all that impressive last time, but they made a run and won it. if I remember correctly, they beat Lithuania in 1/8 finals in OT, like one different possession and they could have been outside top 8, but they ended up winning it all. I would agree Serbia and Germany are top 2, but even this France team is still probably third best team in a tournament on paper, but in one game series, around 10 teams will actually have a chance.

I keep forgetting Maledon, he could be huge player here and in the future, we will see how good he really is on a far better team next season, and here.

[Sgt Major]

Serbian preliminary squad:

Stefan Jović
Vasilije Micić
Aleksa Avramović
Nikola Topić

Bogdan Bogdanović
Vanja Marinković
Marko Gudurić
Uroš Trifunović
Dejan Davidovac
Ognjen Dobrić

Nikola Jović
Alen Smailagić
Tristan Vukčević
Filip Petrušev

Nikola Jokić
Nikola Milutinov
Balša Koprivica.