MUNICH (Germany) - Enjoy every day like it's your last one, they say. There might be some players who are entering this year's FIBA EuroBasket 2025 on the same basketball note - you never know.
Some have already expressed their will to hand over the national team jersey to the next generation, retiring once the tournament is over; some have kept silent, maybe following the same route without making it clear. Some might not even have that thought.
While some younger faces are already here, anticipating the future, these icons might have their last shot at a medal this summer, watching FIBA EuroBasket 2029 as their country's biggest fans.
Nikola Vucevic - Montenegro
Starting from their first FIBA EuroBasket participation in 2011, Montenegro's basketball growth has been crystal clear. One of the reasons behind this is perfectly linked to Nikola Vucevic's commitment.
"It's always a joy to come and play for your country [...] You have one national team you play for. You represent your people - your whole country is watching. That's a special thrill," he said before the summer in an interview withVijesti.
He will experience such feelings one last time. "I think after the EuroBasket, that'll be it," Vucevic also shared.
Don't miss out on the Montenegrin icon's performances in Group B: you won't enjoy his national team specialty anymore once September ends.
Giorgi Shermadini - Georgia
Giorgi Shermadini has been there for Georgia since day one, literally. Since their first appearance at FIBA EuroBasket in 2011, he hasn't missed a single beat when it came to representing his country.
Doing the unthinkable back in 2023, losing by just one point to Iceland but still qualifying for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, he was there too. During the season and during the offseason, he has always been there.
#9 will always be remembered as one of the most prominent faces of Georgian basketball's golden era.
"These will be my final games wearing the Georgian national team jersey," La Laguna Tenerife's memorable center stated in July. Red and white in Giorgi's veins, flowing for one last summer.
Danilo Gallinari - Italy
Danilo Gallinari's summer couldn't have begun on a better note. Three years after the tremendous injury that cost him both FIBA EuroBasket 2022 at home and a full NBA season with the Boston Celtics, Gallo finally closed a happy circle by triumphing in Puerto Rico with Vaqueros de Bayamon.
Coming off his first-ever Championship run as Finals MVP, the 37-year-old forward could put the cherry on top of the cake, pushing Italy to a longed-for medal in international competition.
"It will surely be my last summer with the Italian national team," he told Pianeta Basket in April. Knowing the checkered flag is already there to be waved, Danilo Gallinari will give it all on the floor one last time.
Sasu Salin - Finland
On August 11, Sasu Salin celebrated a 150-game milestone with the Finnish national team. Exactly 15 years after his debut with Finland's wolfpack, the sharpshooting werewolf howled in Espoo against Belgium.
Heading into his sixth FIBA EuroBasket appearance, this time at home in Tampere, the 34-year-old shooting guard could follow in the footsteps of Shawn Huff and Petteri Koponen - who both retired back in 2022 - embracing the love from his people in the stands to conclude his run with the national team in Finland.
If not, there will still be time for him to knock down some more threes coming off the screen. He hasn't stopped running in 15 years; there might be some more kilometers in Sasu's tank.
Kostas Sloukas - Greece
Sea, sun, gyros: what else shouldn't be missed for a perfect summer in Greece? When it comes to basketball and the Greek national team, the answer is clear: Kostas Sloukas.
Ready for his sixth FIBA EuroBasket, he still is the charismatic leader Vassilis Spanoulis needs in that backcourt. His importance increases even more if we think that FIBA EuroBasket 2025 could actually turn out to be his last one.
With that being said, we shouldn't count him out already with such ease. Alongside Spain, Slovenia, and Estonia, Greece will be the place to be in four summers from now.
What has become his day-to-day home with Panathinaikos, since 2023, will be one of the four venues at FIBA EuroBasket 2029: OAKA rocking for Kostas Sloukas' last national team run is a concrete possibility.
Kostas Papanikolaou - Greece
35 years of age for Kostas Sloukas, 35 years of age for Kostas Papanikolaou. Once teammates at Olympiacos, they're now rivals in club competitions but still breathe the same affection for the Greek national team.
What we said about the playmaking killer could be copied and pasted for the eternal slasher, the one who's always there to represent his country - even during the season, collecting appearances in the windows.
Making his debut with the senior national team at FIBA EuroBasket 2011, he's now entering his sixth continental tournament with the same passion. But with different leadership and charisma.
What if, like Kostas Sloukas, he doesn't get tired of these emotions, even close to turning 40? Let's see what the future holds for K-Pap. In the meantime, we can still enjoy his ruthlessness and all-around game on the court.
Dairis Bertans - Latvia
Going from a 21st place finish at FIBA EuroBasket 2011 to being in the top five at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 looked promising for Latvia heading to 2022.
Instead, the Baltic country didn’t make it to FIBA EuroBasket three years ago, starting back from scratch once again. With Dairis Bertans on board, as it has been since 2010.
The rebuilding stage was good enough, though. Following Luca Banchi’s arrival, they went one show away from the Semi-Finals at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 - even though the Latvian playmaker was out with an injury.
Hosting this year’s competition in Riga, Dairis Bertans would be more than happy to conclude his national team career at the top of his game, at 35 years old. It would mean closing the circle again, this time in the best of ways.
Jonas Valanciunas - Lithuania
In the early stages of his national team career, Jonas Valanciunas contributed to capturing two consecutive runners-up finishes at FIBA EuroBasket, first in 2013 and then in 2015.
However, since those results, Lithuania hasn't been able to achieve any other significant success. After finishing in 5th place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, can the Baltic side come back to past victories?
The answer also depends on how impactful the 33-year-old navigated center will be, especially without the solid help of Domantas Sabonis close to the rim.
Lithuania's absolute leader may have one last chance to step on the podium this summer at FIBA EuroBasket 2025, and he surely doesn't want to miss this opportunity.
Daniel Theis - Germany
Germany's recent successful run on the global stage has been one for the ages and decades.
After making it onto the podium at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, they came out on top at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, beating Team USA and then Serbia to be crowned world champions.
Daniel Theis has been one of these recent legacy's main protagonists.
Entering FIBA EuroBasket 2025 with a steady and sharpened mindset, the experienced German center perfectly knows he has had an impact on the newest generation of German centers - including fresh and valuable assets like Hannes Steinbach or Juhann Grunloh.
That's why, in four years from now, it might be the right time for a generation shift. With his game still on top, the 33-year-old center desires to reap some more benefits, first in Tampere and then in Riga.
Nicolo Melli - Italy
With 3:26 minutes to go in the fourth quarter of Italy-Slovenia, the ultimate chapter for both teams at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, Gigi Datome's era repping the Azzurri jersey came to an end.
Everybody quickly stood up to celebrate him - even opponents approached to celebrate the legend with #70 on his back. The strongest hug came from his natural and expected successor: Nicolo Melli, fated to lead Italy as the national team's captain.
Two years later, Fenerbahce's big man wouldn't mind continuing his trophy streak in 2025. After all, at FIBA EuroBasket 2029, he will be 38 years old; Italy's captain from the future could be next in line.
FIBA