VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - Eyes rolled as Serbia announced that Milos Teodosic was hurt and couldn't play at the FIBA EuroBasket. Another big name was out of the tournament.

Ditto when word came out of Greece that the poster boy of their national team, NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, was injured and couldn't play.

Omer Asik is out for Turkey, Sergio Llull is missing for Spain and Danilo Gallinari is absent for Italy. Both Nicolas Batum and Rudy Gobert are taking the summer off for France.

We've been reminded, however, that an international basketball tournament is more than just a few names. The 24-team FIBA EuroBasket has 288 players. The event has a national team spirit that is always there. It has, without fail, players that want to make their mark.

After three days of the competition, no one is talking about missing players. They're talking about the incredible performances of Goran Dragic of Slovenia, Dennis Schroder of Germany and Lauri Markkanen of Finland.

They're talking about the amazing return of Alexey Shved for Russia.

They're talking about the Unicorn, the Latvian sensation Kristaps Porzingis.

And they're also talking about Antetokounmpo. Not Giannis, but Thanasis!

We miss certain players. Of course we do. We sit back and savor all the great moments that Teodosic has given us over the years but injuries happen and even if they don't, he's entitled to a break. It's the same for Batum, a player that's been here, there and everywhere for France since donning the national team shirt as a player in the youth ranks. Give the guy a break. He loves his country, but he needs a little personal time with the family.

This EuroBasket has been amazing. Serbia coach Aleksandar Djordjevic said he was as proud as he's ever been of his national team since he took charge in 2014 after its win over Latvia on the opening day of Group D action. He's got Vladimir Lucic, a player that's been hurt and unable to make it until this summer. Lucic is a warrior and giving everything he's got for the national team. Djordjevic has Boban Marjanovic. What a joy it's been to see him in full flow. Serbia's got Dragan Milosavljevic, a firebrand guard. There's still Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Jedi Osman has been intoxicating as the new leader for Turkey. Osman is filling up the stat sheet for coach Ufuk Sarica, a breath of fresh air in international basketball. Sarica's roster is not loaded with superstar talent yet he has come up with a way of playing, one that depends on high-pressure defense, often full court, that is making the 12 Giant Men very difficult to contend with.

In Group C, in Cluj, Spain still have the Gasols, Navarro, Rodriguez and Rubio. They how have the Hernangomez brothers. Croatia have Saric and Bojan Bogdanovic.

Forget the doom and gloom, folks. Some players may be missing but the ones that are here are worth the price of admission. International basketball is action-packed with Milos Teodosic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Danilo Gallinari, yet it's also proving to be electrifying without them.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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