EuroBasket Group C Roster Breakdown

EuroBasket is under way. These are the players to know in Group C

The first day of EuroBasket is officially underway as we get into Group C. In a quick breakdown of yesterday’s games, Portugal shocked me by winning a rock right against Czechia, Turkey dominated Latvia, Germany dismantled Montenegro, Lithuania easily handled Great Britain, Serbia suplexed Estonia, and Finland edged Sweden in a tightly contested affair. If you’re interested in Groups A and B, click the links below, and Group D will go up on Friday.

Group C will be contested in Cyprus. While the rest of EuroBasket 2025 is in countries along the Baltic Sea, one lucky group gets to spend a few weeks in the Eastern Mediterranean. Due to its geography, Cyprus has played an important role throughout world history. Its copper mines helped fuel the Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age, with the Latin word for copper, cyprium, later corrupted to cuprum, simply being the Romans’ name for Cyprus. It maintained paramount geopolitical importance into the Middle Ages and beyond, as Christian and Islamic kingdoms warred for control of the region. And today, while independent, it remains principally contested by Greece and Turkey. You can add Cyprus to the list of countries Britain abruptly ceded control of, only for it to fall into decades-long turmoil.

Cyprus

Final roster: Antreas Christodoulou, Giannis Giannaras, Aeneas Jung, Stefanos Iliadis, Michalis Koumis, Christos Loizides, Simon Michail, Ioannis Pashialis, Konstantinos Simitzis, Nikos Stylianou, Filippos Tigkas, Darral Willis

As a host, Cyprus gained automatic entry, and it will be their first major international tournament. However, they’ve been one of the most dominant teams in the Games of the Small States of Europe, winning nine gold medals, two silvers, and two bronzes out of 16 events since 1985. While they’ve been a big fish in a small pond, EuroBasket is the ocean.

It’s incredibly hard to determine the quality of Cyprus’s team as their entire roster, save for Darral Willis, plays domestically in Cyprus. According to the Basketball Champions League country coefficient, Cyprus ranks 24th in Europe, about on par with the Netherlands, Finland, and Romania.

Darral Willis, a naturalized citizen, is a 6’9 forward and will play in Taiwan next season, but just finished a season in the Greek League and EuroCup with Aris. In Greek league play, he averaged 12.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He has prior stops at Monaco and Lokomotiv Kuban. Willis is the only player on Cyprus who has a Basketball Reference page in their international player database. He’s a solid player, but not good enough to carry a team on a run.

Nikolaos Stylianou, Cyprus’ captain, is well past his prime at 36, but he did have multiple spells in the Greek League. However, the most recent Greek team he played for, Kymi, has ceased operations since 2019.

Cyprus is likely the smallest team in the tournament, with their tallest players coming in at 6’9. I wish I had more to say, but the lack of readily available information is usually a tell. In all honesty, Cyprus is probably just happy to be in the tournament, and a single victory should be celebrated.

Italy

Final roster: Marco Spissu, Danilo Gallinari, Nicolo Melli, Simone Fontecchio, Giampaolo Ricci, Matteo Spagnolo, Gabriele Procida, Saliou Niang, Momo Diouf, Nicola Akele, Alessandro Pajola, Darius Thompson

From 1971 to 2003, Italy was one of the most successful European basketball programs. Over 17 EuroBaskets, they won two, finished second twice, third four times, and added seven more top-five finishes. If you’re doing the math, that’s 14 out of 17 top-five finishes over 32 years. However, the 21st century has not been as kind to the Italians. They failed to qualify for their first-ever EuroBasket in 2009 and have maxed out with a sixth-place finish in 2015.

Danilo Gallinari is certainly Italy’s most famous player, but Simone Fontecchio is probably their best player at this point. Fontecchio currently plays for the Miami Heat and has carved out a role as a 3-and-D wing in the NBA. During the 2023 World Cup, he averaged 18 points per game and asserted himself as their go-to option following Gallinari’s ACL tear in a World Cup qualifier. He might not be a star in the NBA, but he’s talented enough to star for Italy.

Despite Gallinari’s advanced age (37) and injury history (two ACL tears), he should still have enough in the tank to provide Italy with something. Height and shooting don’t age as quickly as explosiveness, and Gallinari’s whole career has been predicated on being a gigantic shooter. He last played in the Puerto Rican league for Vaqueros de Bayamón, helping them to a league championship. While I’m not sure of the quality of the Puerto Rican league, Gallinari was effective, averaging 19.8 points per game on stellar efficiency.

Nicolo Melli is the only other Italian with NBA experience. He played sparingly across two seasons in the NBA as a power forward/center, but has a long track record in high-level European competition. However, at 34, he’s probably on his last legs and has seen his production and role decline in recent seasons at the club level.

Darius Thompson, a naturalized Italian from Tennessee, has played in the EuroLeague in each of the past four seasons with three different teams. A 6’4 guard, he’s an efficient scorer and strong passer. His scoring has declined each season in European competition, but he should play a key role in setting up the Italian offense.

Look for Marco Spissu and Giampaolo Ricci to also get significant run. The veterans have had prolonged high-level European careers and were key contributors for Italy during their World Cup run. Gabriele Procida, at 23, is one of Italy’s youngest players and just signed for Real Madrid. He has steadily seen his production rise in Europe and looks poised to break through with the national team in the near future. He was a second-round pick in 2022, but appears content with plying his trade in Europe.

Saliou Niang, 21, was just drafted in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft and has seen his role increase substantially over the past year with Trento in Italy. He’s now headed to Italian giants Bologna, where he’ll get his first taste of EuroLeague basketball.

Italy is difficult to project as a medal contender, but this is a talented enough roster to cruise through the group stage. If Gallinari has one more run in him, and Fontecchio can continue to be a go-to option, then Italy should match up favorably against any of the non-elite teams. That probably won’t be enough to finish in the top three, but their first top-five finish in over two decades would be a fantastic result.

Georgia

Final roster: Rati Andronikashvili, Kamar Baldwin, Giorgi Ochkhikidze, Duda Sanadze, Kakha Jincharadze, Aleksandre Pevadze, Beka Burjanadze, Toko Shengelia, Giorgi Korsantia, Goga Bitadze, Giorgi Shermadini, Ilia Londaridze, Sandro Mamukelashvili

Georgian basketball has steadily come on in the past 15 years. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia failed to qualify for EuroBasket until 2011, but has participated in every single one since. While their 11th-place finish in 2011 remains their best showing, this is a talented enough roster at the top to make it out of the group stage.

While Sandro Mamukelashvili and Goga Bitadze are Georgia’s current NBAers, it’s a former NBAer who could end up leading their attack. Toko Shengelia had brief cups of coffee with the Nets and Bulls, but has been a legend in Europe and for the national team. While his bona fides in Europe are exceptional, his status for the start of the tournament is up in the air. Shengelia was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia on August 8th. He has been cleared for basketball activities, but is still working his way into game shape. Missing Shengelia would be a massive blow, as he led Georgia in scoring at the FIBA World Cup and has averaged 15 points per game over the past two EuroLeagues with Bolonga.

Goga Bitadze is one of my favorite niche players in the NBA. He’s a regular-season player for sure, but he’s a top-tier backup big because he can start 45 regular-season games and you won’t notice a thing. His rim protection and rebounding are excellent, and on offense, he sets nasty screens and finishes well within ten feet. As far as EuroBasket goes, he might be the best defensive big in the whole tournament. Bitadze is one of the most underrated players in the NBA, but hopefully, he can gain a few more fans through EuroBasket.

Sandro Mamukelashvili is in contention for the hipster breakout niche NBA player award. He’s a 6’11 power forward/center who is a career 34.8% 3-point shooter. In limited minutes with the Spurs this past season, he managed a 3.3 offensive box plus/minus. While that’s a small sample blip, you don’t accidentally just produce at that level. Now in Toronto, he could see his role explode if he can approximate the 37.3% 3-point shooting he posted last season. Georgia had success pairing Mamukelashvili and Bitadze in the World Cup, which gives them a massive front line without completely sacrificing spacing.

Like many European teams, Georgia is a little lacking in homegrown guard talent, but through the powers of naturalization, they’ve brought Kamar Baldwin into the fold. Baldwin had a successful NCAA career at Butler before heading over to Europe. His most successful stint in Europe came with Trento in the EuroCup and Italian league. This past season, he played for Baskonia in Spain and the EuroLeague, and while his production dipped, it was also a step up in competition. Butler isn’t a particularly impressive scorer, but he distributes the ball well without turning it over. His job is to get it to Georgia’s three front-court stars, and he’s perfectly suited to it.

Depending on the health of Toko Shengelia, Georgia should make it out of the group and could make a real run. They have an excellent front court and should be a pain to play against. I’m a little concerned about their 3-point shooting, but if volatility swings their way, they can beat anyone.

Spain

Final roster: Santi Aldama, Dario Brizuela, Juancho Hernangomez, Willy Hernangomez, Sergio De Larrea, Xabi Lopez-Arostegui, Joel Parra, Jaime Pradilla, Josep Puerto, Mario Saint-Supery, Yankuba Sima, Santi Yusta

Rightly, for most American basketball fans, Spain is viewed as the cream of the international crop. No team, outside of the United States, has dominated the 21st century to the degree that Spain has. Since 1999, they have failed to medal once, a fourth-place finish, in 11 EuroBaskets. Their medal count amounts to four golds, three silvers, and three bronzes. That doesn’t even include their two FIBA World Cup wins (2006, 2019), and their consecutive Olympic silvers (2008, 2012). And while Spanish NBA star power has largely disappeared over the past ten years, they won the 2015 and 2022 EuroBaskets, making them the reigning champions of Europe.

Spain's extended run is largely a product of their highly competitive domestic league. Since European leagues have foreign player quotas, the strength, top to bottom, of a domestic league goes a long way in predicting sustained international success. Spain is currently the best league outside of the NBA, and that’s been a pretty bankable constant over the past 20 years.

It almost doesn’t seem possible, but Santi Aldama is Spain’s lone current NBAer. While Aldama isn’t a star, he has averaged 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game over his past two NBA seasons, and has improved his scoring in each subsequent season. At 24, he’s about to enter his prime, is coming off a career-best season, just signed a three-year deal worth $52 million, and looks poised to command a larger share of Spain’s offense.

However, Spain might still be the Hernangomez brothers’ team. Willy and Juancho Hernangomez both had seven-season NBA careers as role players, but have found far more success in Europe. Willy currently plays for Barcelona in the Spanish League, while Juancho plays for Panathinaikos in Greece. The pair are coming off strong EuroLeague campaigns, and Willy has asserted himself as Spain's go-to offensive option. In the World Cup, he averaged 18.2 points per game and won the EuroBasket MVP in 2022.

The next generation of Spanish talent will also be at the tournament, although how much run they get remains to be seen. At 19, Sergio de Larrea and Mario Saint-Supéry simply being on the Spanish roster is a testament to their precociousness. De Larrea featured in 14 EuroCup games for Valencia this past season, averaging 4.8 points per game, and a strong showing in EuroBasket and in the 2025-26 season, could see him enter the 2026 NBA draft. At 6’5, he’s a tall lead ball handler who currently possesses a solid handle, crafty footwork, and a smooth jumper. His passing highlights are impressive and show a rare combination of creativity and vision. I hope he gets some game action because he might be coming stateside sooner rather than later.

Saint-Supéry played 33 games for Manresa in Spain this past season, but will head to Gonzaga for the 2025-26 season. For an 18-year-old to average 8.3 points per game in the Spanish League is big time, and while his lack of size (6’3) and high-end athleticism might ultimately hurt his chances in the NBA, he should be an excellent collegiate player. I doubt he gets much run in this edition of EuroBasket, but he, along with de Larrea, could be Spain’s backcourt for a decade.

Spain’s program is so good that they’re always in championship or bust mode in non-Olympic play. This isn’t their most talented roster, but top to bottom, they have quality players. If either of their two young guards pops, they could cruise to the medal stand. However, I’d still favor Serbia and Germany over them.

Greece

Final roster: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Tyler Dorsey, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, Dimitrios Katsivelis, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Dinos Mitoglou, Kostas Papanikolaou, Alexandros Samodurov, Kostas Sloukas, Vasileios Toliopoulos

Greece is not a traditional European power, but since the 1980s, they’ve been a consistently formidable opponent. Starting in 1987, when they won their first EuroBasket behind Nikos Galis’ scoring wizardry, Greece has qualified for every single EuroBasket and added another gold (2005), silver (1989), and bronze to their ledger (2009).

Greece has one significant advantage in Group C play, and that is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Without a shadow of a doubt, Greece enters every group game with by far the best player. Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, coming off a four-season run where he has averaged 30.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, and just averaged 25.8 points per game in the 2024 Olympics. Everyone knows Giannis is great, but sometimes I think we take it for granted. Greece hasn’t medaled in an international tournament during his career, and this is his best chance to cement his legacy.

Vassilis Toliopoulos is a 6’2 guard who is a bit of a late bloomer. Up until 2020-21, Toliopoulos hadn’t done much in the Greek league, playing sparingly and never once cracking double-digit points per game. However, his campaign at Ionikos in 2020-21 completely changed his career. He averaged 12.1 points per game in the league and earned a move to Aris in 2022-23, where he has continued his upward trajectory. At 29, Toliopoulos is playing the best basketball of his career and should provide some much-needed backcourt scoring punch.

Kostas Sloukas is a bit past his prime, but he has an insane amount of EuroLeague experience, having played for Olympiacos, Fenerbahçe, and Panathinaikos throughout his career. In a career spanning over 15 seasons, he has played 426 EuroLeague games, with his peak seasons coming from between 2018-19 and 2023-24. Now 35, he’s probably not the same player that averaged 12.7 points per game in Euroleague play, but he’s a big guard (6’6) and an excellent passer.

Kostas Papanikolaou had a two-season run in the NBA in the mid-2010s, but has built a reputation as one of the best wing defenders in Europe. However, at 35 years old, it’s unlikely that he’s quite the beast he once was, but he continues to be a mainstay for Olympiacos in EuroLeague play.

Greece has the potential to make a deep run on the strength of Antetokounmpo alone, but this roster is filled with more talent than meets the eye. Greece, like Spain, has one of the best domestic leagues in the world, which means a steady stream of competent players Americans have never heard of. Spain is probably the favorite in the group, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Greece took the top spot.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Final roster: Amar Alibegovic, Edin Atic, Jusuf Nurkic, Miralem Halilovic, Ajdin Penava, Aleksandar Lazic, Adin Vrabac, Adnan Arslanagic, Kenan Kamenjas, Tarik Hrelja, John Roberson, Amar Begic

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for their first EuroBasket in 1993 following the disintegration of Yugoslavia, finished eighth in a 16-team field, and haven’t been able to crack the top ten since. While they’ve only failed to qualify for four EuroBaskets since, they’ve never come close to threatening for a medal and routinely have been offed in the group stages. Bosnia is a solid B-Tier European program, which is just fine for a nation of 2.9 million with a developing economy.

Jusuf Nurkic is Bosnia’s lone current NBAer, and their only player with any NBA experience at all. While his career in the NBA appears to be winding down– he’s been salary dumped multiple times in the past 12 months–, he’s only 31 and isn’t that far removed from being a productive starting NBA center. Nurkic’s biggest issue in the NBA, his inability to defend, is less of an issue in international competition. He can still score around the basket and should be the focal point of Bosnia’s offense.

Miralem Halilović has had a long career in Europe and was leading Metropolitans 92 in France before departing right as Victor Wembanyama arrived. Halilović was highly productive in the French league, which garnered a move to Galatasaray, and he’s now playing in Italy. He’s 34 now, and his production has declined with age and a move to a more difficult domestic league. I’m not sure if he’s Bosnia’s second-best player, but he probably has their second-best career resume.

Amar Alibegović played his collegiate ball at St. John’s (2014-2018) and has carved out a long career in European, principally in Italy. Last season with Trapani in Italy, Alibegović averaged 12.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. The season before in Turkey, he averaged 13.9 points per game with Bodrumspor. He won the EuroCup in 2022 with Bologna, but has yet to play in the EuroLeague.

Bosnia is light on players who currently play in major European leagues, which is never a good sign. Consistent qualification for EuroBasket appears to be the upper limit of Bosnia’s current basketball program. However, that’s a great place to be. All it takes is one high-level player to take a program like Bosnia’s from also-ran to contender. Bosnia won’t be the worst team in the group, but they’re decidedly behind everyone but Cyprus. However, if they can take care of business against Cyprus, all it takes is one upset to get out of the group stage.

For any inquiries about work, discussion, and the like, you can email me at nevin.l.brown@gmail.com.