ESPN Eurobasket Stars: Top 10 – Portugal & JV
NBA Stars Primed to Dominate EuroBasket 2025
Table of Contents
As the EuroBasket tournament approaches, anticipation is building around the participation of several NBA superstars. A recent assessment highlights the players expected to have the biggest impact, with Nikola Jokić leading the charge.
Published August 21, 2025
The Top Three Contenders
Unsurprisingly, Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, tops the list of players to watch. His potential impact is significant, especially considering Serbia hasn’t secured a EuroBasket title as 2001 and last reached the finals in 2017. A tournament victory would further cement Jokić’s already impressive legacy.
Following closely behind is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. While Greece won the tournament in 2005 and earned a medal in 2009, Antetokounmpo’s previous performances in international competitions have been somewhat inconsistent. However, analysts predict a dominant showing from him this year, provided he remains healthy.
rounding out the top three is Luka Dončić of the Los Angeles Lakers. dončić, who won gold with Slovenia in 2017 at just 18 years old and was a standout performer in 2022, has been the subject of recent discussion regarding his offseason conditioning. His participation is eagerly anticipated by NBA fans.
Other NBA Stars to Watch
Beyond the top three, several other NBA players are expected to make a significant impact on EuroBasket 2025. These include:
- Franz Wagner (Germany, orlando Magic)
- Alperen Şengün (Turkey, Houston Rockets)
- Kristaps Porziņģis (Latvia, Atlanta Hawks)
- Lauri Markkanen (Finland, Utah Jazz)
- Santi Aldama (Spain, Memphis Grizzlies)
- Neemias Queta (Portugal, Boston Celtics)
Players on the Radar
ESPN has also identified a group of players who could play key roles for their national teams:
| Player | Nationality | NBA Team |
|---|---|---|
| Nikola Vučević | Montenegro | Chicago Bulls |
| Dennis Schröder | Germany | Sacramento Kings |
| Guerschon Yabusele | France | New York Knicks |
| Bogdan bogdanović | Serbia | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Pelle Larsson | Sweden | Miami Heat |
| Luke Garza | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Boston Celtics |
Lithuania’s Absence from the Spotlight
Notably absent from these initial rankings is Jonas Valančiūnas, the captain of the Lithuanian national team and a key player for the Denver Nuggets alongside Jokić. This omission raises questions about Lithuania’s prospects in the tournament.