RIGA (Latvia) - Basketball was so strict back in the days of yesteryear. Especially when it came to jersey numbers, from four to 15, with those higher up the order being bigger, meaning the big men were usually 13, 14 and 15.
In fact, it is the reason why Nikola Jokic wears number 15.
"I was the biggest (kid) on my first team, and number 15 was the last one. They only ordered one in the extra (large) size for the big guys, and that's how I got 15. I was 12, probably. It was the biggest size," he told The Athletic back in 2019.
Now, with the freedom of choice, there are all sorts of numbers at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025. From guys wearing 0, to all sorts of 17s, 28s or 55s.
Then, there's a surprising new favorite in town.
"There is no connection with Luka Doncic," Czechia's Tomas Kyzlink laughed out loud when asked about his jersey number 77.
"When I started wearing 77, Luka was like 10 years old probably. (I took 77) because number seven was occupied by our captain. I got used to it, I like how it looks, and also, they announce you as the last one so you get the biggest cheer from the fans," Kyzlink added.
The captain in question? One of Czechia's eternal members, number seven, Vojtech Hruban, who - get this - wears 77 on club level, having last played with ERA Nymburk.
"I liked 77 more, but now it's a little bit too mainstream," Hruban was also full of jokes.
Also in Group A, Türkiye brought their own #77 to the event.
"I didn't pick it because it was cool or popular, I picked it because my last name is Yurt-seven. So it already had a seven in it. I used to wear seven as a kid, but I was like, seven in my name... Two more sevens... So three sevens? I like it. I think I brought me a lot of luck in Miami, so I like it a lot," Omer Yurtseven explained.
Not enough? Another 77 in Group A, Estonia's Kristian Kullamae.
"When I started playing for the national team, seven was taken, our veteran point guard Sten-Timmu Sokk was wearing it, so it was a logical choice to go double seven, 77," Kullamae said.
Giorgi Ochkhikidze is also repping 77 for Georgia, and you can catch Flight 77 if you tune into Spanish games, as big guy Yankuba Sima will throw down alley-oops and block shots for the defending champs.
Now... Who are we missing? One more 77, right?
"I mean, obviously. He's the symbol of this number," Kullamae nodded.
It's of course Luka Doncic. However, the reason why he's 77 is exactly the same as with most of these guys, as Klemen Prepelic wore seven when Luka joined the national team ahead of the FIBA EuroBasket 2017.
The story behind Luka's love for number seven is that he idolized current Greece head coach Vassilis Spanoulis as a kid, and when he couldn't get seven in Slovenia's locker room eight years ago, he went with 77.
The rest is, as they say, history. Or maybe the future, as more and more players are opting for this number.
#00
Sylvain Francisco (FRA)
#0
Jusuf Nurkic (BIH) Henri Drell (EST) Elie Okobo (FRA) Isaac Bonga (GER) Gabriel Olaseni (GBR) Kyle Allman (MNE) Diogo Brito (POR) Shane Larkin (TUR) Andrzej Pluta (POL)
"I use it as a motivational tool. If you look at my height, my size, most people wouldn't have expected me to have the kind of basketball career that I've had. So I kinda use it as a motivational tool, as to the amount of people who thought I would be in this position. The doubt of it fuels me." - Shane Larkin, Türkiye
#1
Christos Loizides (CYP) Mart Rosenthal (EST) Miro Little (FIN) Oscar Da Silva (GER) Marek Blazevic (LTU) Denzel Andersson (SWE)
#2
John Roberson (BIH) Sander Raieste (EST) Nadir Hifi (FRA) Josh Ward Hibbert (GBR) Tyler Dorsey (GRE) Margiris Normantas (LTU) Vlad Voytso (POR) Adam Ramstedt (SWE) Sehmus Hazer (TUR) Josep Puerto (ESP) Aleksander Balcerowski (POL)
#3
Amar Alibegovic (BIH) Konstantinos Simitzis (CYP) Kaspar Treier (EST) Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (FRA) Aegir Steinarsson (ISL) Arnas Velicka (LTU) Vladimir Mihailovic (MNE) Filip Petrusev (SRB) Sergio De Larrea (ESP) Khadeen Carrington (ISR) Michal Sokolowski (POL)
#4
Emmanuel Lecomte (BEL) Adnan Arslanagic (BIH) Ioannis Pashialis (CYP) Rati Andronikashvili (GEO) Maodo Lo (GER) Nikola Vucevic (MNE) Mark Padjen (SLO) Jaime Pradilla (ESP)
#5
Edin Atic (BIH) Simon Michail (CYP) Jan Zidek (CZE) Sandro Mamukelashvili (GEO) Tristan Da Silva (GER) Adama Aminu (GBR) Giannoulis Larentzakis (GRE) Hilmar Henningsson (ISL) Mareks Mejeris (LAT) Travante Williams (POR) Nikola Jovic (SRB) Wilhelm Falk (SWE) Sertac Sanli (TUR) Mario Saint-Supery (ESP)
#6
Stefanos Iliadis (CYP) Kakhaber Jintcharadze (GEO) Luke Nelson (GBR) Jon Axel Gudmundsson (ISL) Kristaps Porzingis (LAT) Francisco Amarante (POR) Aleksej Nikolic (SLO) Tobias Borg (SWE) Cedi Osman (TUR) Xabi Lopez-Arostegui (ESP) Itay Segev (ISR)
"Number six was my brother's number when he used to play, and he was my idol growing up. It was a no-brainer for me." - Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia
#7
Miralem Halilovic (BIH) Antreas Christodoulou (CYP) Vojtech Hruban (CZE) Mikk Jurkatamm (EST) Guerschon Yabusele (FRA) Beka Burjanadze (GEO) Johannes Voigtmann (GER) Jelani Watson-Gayle (GBR) Vasileios Toliopoulos (GRE) Gytis Radzevicius (LTU) Andrija Slavkovic (MNE) Bogdan Bogdanovic (SRB) Klemen Prepelic (SLO) Santi Aldama (ESP)
"I feel like it's a number that always resonated with me. Some of my favorite soccer players wore number seven, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul." - Santi Aldama, Spain
#8
Jean-Marc Mwema (BEL) Isaia Cordinier (FRA) Danilo Gallinari (ITA) Davis Bertans (LAT) Tadas Sedekerskis (LTU) Emir Hadzibegovic (MNE) Edo Muric (SLO) Dario Brizuela (ESP) Deni Avdija (ISR) Jordan Loyd (POL)
#9
Amar Gegic (BIH) Aeneas Jung (CYP) Matthias Tass (EST) Sasu Salin (FIN) Giorgi Shermadini (GEO) Franz Wagner (GER) Nicolo Melli (ITA) Dairis Bertans (LAT) Marko Simonovic (MNE) Diogo Ventura (POR) Vanja Marinkovic (SRB) Pelle Larsson (SWE) Roman Sorkin (ISR) Mateusz Ponitka (POL)
#10
Hans Vanwijn (BEL) Giannis Giannaras (CYP) Duda Sanadze (GEO) Daniel Theis (GER) Kostas Sloukas (GRE) Elvar Fridriksson (ISL) Azuolas Tubelis (LTU) Bojan Tomasevic (MNE) Onuralp Bitim (TUR) Bar Timor (ISR) Szymon Zapala (POL)
#11
Loic Scwartz (BEL) Michalis Koumis (CYP) Ajdin Penava (BIH) Adam Kejval (CZE) Siim-Sander Vene (EST) Theo Maledon (FRA) Panagiotis Kalaitzakis (GRE) Almar Atlason (ISL) Rolands Smits (LAT) Zoran Vuceljic (MNE) Miguel Queiroz (POR) Tristan Vukcevic (SRB) Yam Madar (ISR) Aleksander Dziewa (POL)
#12
George Korsantia (GEO) Tarik Phillip (GBR) Kari Jonsson (ISL) Rok Radovic (SLO) Ludvig Hakanson (SWE) Rafael Menco (ISR) Tomasz Gielo (POL)
#13
Filippos Tigkas (CYP) Kregor Hermet (EST) Olivier Nkamhoua (FIN) Jubrile Belo (GBR) Simone Fontecchio (ITA) Rokas Jokubaitis (LTU) Djordje Jovanovic (MNE) Diogo Gameiro (POR) Ognjen Dobric (SRB) Robert Jurkovic (SLO)
#14
Mouhammadou Jaiteh (FRA) Kristinn Palsson (ISL) Daniel Relvao (POR) Willy Hernangomez (ESP)
#15
Martin Peterka (CZE) Aleksandre Phevadze (GEO) Akwasi Yeboah (GBR) Martin Hermannsson (ISL) Darius Thompson (ITA) Laurynas Birutis (LTU) Nikola Jokic (SRB) Gregor Hrovat (SLO) Mattias Markusson (SWE) Nimrod Levi (ISR) Kamil Laczynski (POL)
#16
Kevin Tumba (FRA) Kostas Papanikolaou (GRE) Nicholas Spires (SWE)
#17
Aleksandar Lazic (BIH) Jaromir Bohacik (CZE) Dennis Schroder (GER) Giampaolo Ricci (ITA) Jonas Valanciunas (LTU) Balsa Zivanovic (MNE) Dominik Olejniczak (POL)
"The number is in my family now. I think I might have started a trend with the family's favorite number. It's got some sentimental value for me. It's just lucky, respected number, and if ever I'm asked to pick a lottery number, I'll choose 17. I'll rock this number until I'm done." - Jonas Valanciunas, Lithuania
#18
Mikael Jantunen (FIN) Matteo Spagnolo (ITA) Klavs Cavars (LAT) Viktor Gaddefors (SWE)
#19
Ismael Bako (BEL) Ondrej Sehnal (CZE) Elias Valtonen (FIN) Dimitrios Katsivelis (GRE) Gabriele Procida (ITA) Rihards Lomazs (LAT) Zoran Nikolic (MNE) Melwin Pantzar (SWE)
#20
Alexander Madsen (FIN) Alexandros Samodurov (GRE) Saliou Niang (ITA)
#21
Darral Willis (CYP) Petr Krivanek (CZE) Janari Joesaar (EST) Edon Maxhuni (FIN) Zaccharie Risacher (FRA) Justus Hollatz (GER)
#22
Myles Hesson (GBR) Igor Drobnjak (MNE) Vasilije Micic (SRB) Furkan Korkmaz (TUR) Santi Yusta (ESP)
#23
Tarik Hrelja (BIH) Lauri Markkanen (FIN) Tornike Shengelia (GEO) Marko Guduric (SRB) Luka Scuka (SLO) Alperen Sengun (TUR) Michal Michalak (POL)
"Before I went to the NBA, I wore 23 with my club, and with the national team, too. I didn't want to change it, but in the future, why not? Any special reason for 23? Michael Jordan, LeBron James, back in the time I used to watch them when I was a kid. 11 was my number, but when I went to Besiktas, somebody else had picked it, so I picked 23." - Alperen Sengun, Türkiye
#24
Andy Van Vliet (BEL) Miikka Muurinen (FIN) Carl Wheatle (GBR) Andrejs Grazulis (LAT) Alen Omic (SLO) Ercan Osmani (TUR)
#25
Joonas Riismaa (EST) Nuno Sa (POR)
#27
Adin Vrabac (BIH) Vit Krejci (CZE)
"My sister used to play with 17, but every time I went to some team, 17 was always taken so I just took the next number, so it was 27, and it kinda stuck with me." - Vit Krejci, Czechia
#28
Marcis Steinbergs (LAT) Rafael Lisboa (POR) Przemyslaw Zolnierewicz (POL)
#29
Siebe Ledegen (BEL) Orri Gunnarsson (ISL) Candido Sa (POR)
#30
Andre Gustavson (FIN) Dan Akin (GBR) Aleksa Avramovic (SRB) Adem Bona (TUR)
#31
Martin Kriz (CZE) Rokas Giedraitis (LTU) Barra Njie (SWE)
#32
Richard Balint (CZE) Johannes Thiemann (GER) Patrick Whelan (GBR) Tryggvi Hlinason (ISL)
"In binary code, there's the first number, which is 1 or 0, then 2 and 0, then 4 and 0, 8 and 0, 16 and 0. Then, there's 32. So, 32 is 1 and then 5 zeros. I had to pick a number, and it ended up being 32 for this peculiar reason. It was kind of out of nowhere. Because I was studying as an electrician and I was familiar with it. I thought it was a nice number. Nothing more to it." - Tryggvi Hlinason, Iceland
#33
Marco Spissu (ITA) Nikola Milutinov (SRB) Erkan Yilmaz (TUR)
#34
Niels Van Den Eynde (BEL) Kenan Kamenjas (BIH) Artur Konontsuk (EST) Jacob Grandison (FIN) Jaylen Hoard (FRA) Leon Kratzer (GER) Giannis Antetokounmpo (GRE) Styrmir Thrastarson (ISL)
#35
Ilari Seppala (FIN) Goga Bitadze (GEO) Mouhamet Diouf (ITA) Simon Birgander (SWE) Ethan Burg (ISR)
#36
Joppe Mennes (BEL)
#37
Kostas Antetokounmpo (GRE) Leon Stregar (SLO)
#41
Godwin Tshimanga (BEL) Tomer Ginat (ISR) Juancho Hernangomez (ESP)
#42
Andreas Obst (GER)
"It's the birth year of my grandfather, Rolf-Dieter. And I just wanted to honor my grandfather getting my first basketball and first basket. So that's why I wanted to take the 42."
#43
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (GRE) Ignas Sargiunas (LTU)
#44
Mamadou Guisse (BEL) Alexandre Sarr (FRA) Kamar Baldwin (GEO) Dinos Mitoglou (GRE) Joel Parra (ESP)
#45
Nicola Akele (ITA)
#47
Arturs Kurucs (LAT)
#50
Yovel Zoosman (ISR)
"My name means jubilee, 50 years. That's the translation in Hebrew. I'm making my own way. I don't know many players who are wearing number 50, plus I have another meaning to it, so I think it's pretty cool." - Yovel Zoosman, Israel
#54
Alessandro Pajola (ITA)
#55
Arturs Zagars (LAT) Kenan Sipahi (TUR)
#66
Sigtryggur Bjornsson (ISL) Kristers Zoriks (LAT)
#71
Martin Svoboda (CZE)
#77
Tomas Kyzlink (CZE) Kristian Kullamae (EST) Giorgi Ochkhikidze (GEO) Luka Doncic (SLO) Omer Yurtseven (TUR) Yankuba Sima (ESP)
#88
Neemias Queta (POR)
"My first number ever was number eight. That was the first memory I have of basketball, when I got to the (NBA), I wanted to take it again, but it wasn't available, so I just said, why not double-eight? It's a unique number, gives me a bit of a different look, looks good on the back of my jersey. Two numbers that are the same, 88 one way, 88 the other way." - Neemias Queta, Portugal
#91
Deividas Sirvydis (LTU)
#99
Nikos Stylianou (CYP) Bilal Coulibaly (FRA) Guy Palatin (ISR)
#5, #7, #9 and #11 come out on top at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 with 14 players wearing each of those numbers.
FIBA