ATHENS (Greece) - Greece are one of just six countries with multiple FIBA EuroBasket crowns and the proud basketball nation will be fighting for title number three as they make their 18th straight appearance on the continental stage.
Despite all those opportunities, reaching the podium has been an elusive endeavour for the Greeks. The last time Greece finished in the top three of a FIBA EuroBasket, current head coach Vassilis Spanoulis was averaging 14 points and 4 assists in 2009. And this summer is the 20th anniversary of Hellas last hoisting the trophy in 2005.
Greece have already started another generational change with a number of youngsters brought into the training camp. But it will be up to the hungry and motivated group of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dinos Mitoglou and Kostas Sloukas to finally bring back some hardware.
Schedule
August 28: vs Italy (20:30 CET) August 30: vs Cyprus (17:15 CET) August 31: vs Georgia (14:00 CET) September 2: vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (14:00 CET) September 4: vs Spain (20:30 CET)
Star Player
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the face of the Greece national team as one of the biggest superstars in the NBA. The 30-year-old Antetokounmpo has already been playing for Hellas for 11 years - debuting in the senior national team at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014. This will be his third EuroBasket to go with two FIBA World Cups and the 2024 Olympics. But Greece have not finished on the podium of a major competition since the 2009 EuroBasket.
Antetokounmpo has not slowed down at all from a quality standpoint - still one of the world's most dynamic and dominant players. He still struggles shooting from long range but his playmaking skills have improved more and more over the past couple of years. And he is truly a dominant all-around player at both ends of the court.
The Milwaukee Bucks star poured in 25.8 points at the 2024 Olympics while also picking up 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Greece reached the Quarter-Finals as one of the best third-placed teams before losing to Germany in the top eight stage. The Greeks lost to Germany in the Quarter-Finals of the 2022 EuroBasket where Antetokounmpo averaged 29.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Giannis will need to be at the top of his game to have success.
History
Greece's qualification for FIBA EuroBasket 2025 marks their 29th overall appearance in the prestigious tournament, further cementing their legacy as one of Europe’s basketball stalwarts. They will be appearing in their 18th consecutive EuroBasket.
And Hellas has been a force on the continent since missing the tournament for the last time in 1985. They hoisted the trophy in 1987 and 2005 while finishing second in 1989 and took third in 2009. Greece have registered eight top four results since 1987.
Champions: 1987, 2005 Runners-up: 1989 Third Place: 1949, 2009
EuroBasket Top Scorers
Rank | Player | Games | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nikos Galis | 33 | 1031 |
2 | Panagiotis Giannakis | 58 | 769 |
3 | Giorgos Kolokithas | 25 | 488 |
4 | Panagiotis Fassoulas | 43 | 473 |
5 | Ioannis Bourousis | 53 | 468 |
6 | Nikos Zisis | 31 | 449 |
7 | Vassilis Spanoulis | 38 | 429 |
8 | Theofanis Christodoulou | 40 | 379 |
9 | Nick Calathes | 41 | 365 |
10 | Antonios Fotsis | 44 | 353 |
How they qualified
Gameday 1: GRE 72-64 CZE Gameday 2: NED 72-74 GRE Gameday 3: GBR 73-72 GRE Gameday 4: GRE 77-67 GBR Gameday 5: CZE 89-93 GRE Gameday 6: GRE 63-53 NED
Poll: Where will they finish?
Tickets
FIBA