The 10 best NBA stars to watch at EuroBasket 2025: how Jokic and Doncic rank on the international stage

When the summer Olympics hit pause, EuroBasket 2025 steps onto center court, delivering NBA fans a rare chance to see their favorite stars suit up for their home countries. From Nikola Jokić’s majestic game to Luka Dončić’s showmanship, this tournament — running from August 27 to September 14 — is stacked with global talent who continue to shape both the NBA and the international landscape.

NBA Talent in Focus: Why EuroBasket 2025 Matters

This year, 25 nations are competing, with powerhouses like Serbia, France, Germany, Greece, and Slovenia fielding rosters loaded with NBA names. With international stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Franz Wagner, and Alperen Şengün expected to appear, EuroBasket 2025 represents the deepest overlap ever between the NBA and Europe’s finest.

According to expert estimations such as RAPTOR player projections and historical EuroBasket statistics, NBA regulars are primed to dominate — yet each arrives with a different narrative. Veteran stars look to cement their legacy, while young guns aim to establish their credentials. “There’s never been a bigger stage for these players to translate their NBA impact to the international game,” says data analyst Neil Paine, formerly of FiveThirtyEight.

The 10 NBA Stars to Watch at EuroBasket 2025

1. Nikola Jokić (Serbia)
   Age: 30 | 2024-25 NBA Projection: +8.2 overall RAPTOR
   No surprise here. Jokić heads into EuroBasket on the heels of five consecutive seasons topping RAPTOR rankings, ready to lead Serbia as heavy favorites—especially after a painful near-miss against Team USA last summer. If you want more on NBA dynasties and what makes champions, check out this NBA dynasty deep-dive.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
   Age: 31 | Projection: +5.7 overall
   Giannis’s individual brilliance — never lower than fourth in NBA MVP voting since 2018 — hasn’t always translated to team success with Greece. But if he’s available, expect dominant performances, as seen in his 25.8 PPG Olympic run.
3. Luka Dončić (Slovenia)
   Age: 26 | Projection: +5.2 overall
   Fresh from a headline-grabbing trade and a much-discussed summer body transformation, Dončić remains EuroBasket’s must-watch star. His statistical consistency — even after moving teams — yet again highlights why NBA front offices keep betting big on his upside.
4. Franz Wagner (Germany)
   Age: 24 | Projection: +4.0 overall
   Wagner played through injury to have his best NBA season yet, anchoring Germany’s run as second-favorite behind Serbia. With improved three-point shooting, he’s a real threat to star both here and next NBA season.
5. Alperen Şengün (Turkey)
   Age: 23 | Projection: +2.4 overall
   May be the catalyst for a surging Turkish squad, especially if he unlocks his outside shot. Recent NBA play hints at a leap into the game’s elite tier if he keeps developing.
6. Kristaps Porziņģis (Latvia)
   Age: 30 | Projection: +2.2 overall
   The Celtics’ latest champion (alongside Jayson Tatum) returns to the Euro stage after almost a decade, aiming to steer his home side deep into the tournament. Latvia also benefits from hosting duties, which could offer an emotional edge.
7. Lauri Markkanen (Finland)
   Age: 28 | Projection: +1.3 overall
   Despite dips last season, pre-tournament friendlies show Markkanen is back in form, dropping 42 points against Poland. Finnish fans will hope this resurgence lasts through September.
8. Deni Avdija (Israel)
   Age: 25 | Projection: +1.1 overall
   Quietly effective in the NBA, Avdija has reinvented himself since joining Portland, with career-best numbers across the board. Not to mention, he’s already shined on the international stage as FIBA U20 MVP.
9. Santi Aldama (Spain)
   Age: 25 | Projection: +0.9 overall
   As Spain transitions from its golden generation, Aldama is emerging as a pivotal figure. He’s one of the NBA’s most improved players and ready to lead the defending champs in a year of realistic humility.
10. Neemias Queta (Portugal)
    Age: 26 | Projection: +0.2 overall
    Though not always in the Boston Celtics’ spotlight, Queta is Portugal’s hope after showing real flashes of upside in limited NBA time. With a bigger stage, he could prove he’s more than a rotation piece.

Voices from the Hardwood

“International basketball is a different animal. NBA stars know they carry not just their skills, but the pride of a whole nation,” says veteran coach Sergio Scariolo, who recently wrapped up a storied run with Spain. NBA insiders emphasize that how a star adapts to the FIBA game — usually with less space and more physicality — can be predictive for the next NBA season.

And while the NBA offseason is buzzing with talk around free agency, legacy, and superstars changing places, these weeks at EuroBasket can redefine legacies and shatter assumptions about who really leads on the world stage.

Different Perspectives, Big Implications

Not every NBA star will play, with participation subject to in-season injuries, personal choices, or late roster moves. And while most experts agree that NBA talent tips the scales, one can’t ignore that for some players — especially rising stars or veterans in smaller roles stateside — this might be their best shot at basketball immortality. “Playing for your country in a packed European stadium, the pressure’s different,” one former NBA scout reflects. “Suddenly, every possession feels like Game 7.”

For fans debating the best NBA eras or the truths behind big-contract free agents, EuroBasket offers a live laboratory to see how NBA stars stack up in another context — with different teammates, playstyles, and stakes.

Looking Ahead

As EuroBasket 2025 tips off, all eyes are on stars like Jokić and Dončić, testing not just their individual brilliance, but the very limits of how much one NBA star can lift his national team. How these players perform won’t just shape the summer — it will echo into NBA training camps and debates for months to come.

Source: www.espn.com