The 2025 EuroBasket tournament is set to begin soon, with group play starting on August 27. A slew of NBA players are competing in the tournament, but make no mistake–some primary EuroLeague players can certainly hold their own.
Some may even have a chance to be the MVP of the tournament, surprising the world with a run through the tournament while representing their home country.
We highlighted one MVP contender from each of the 24 EuroBasket countries participating in the event. NBA stars occupy a spot, and some players you may not know also have a chance to win the honorable award.
Belgium
Jean-Marc Mwema
Playing professionally since 2009, Jean-Marc Mwema is the most seasoned and vital player on the Belgium national team. He does it all on the floor. Belgium is entering the tournament as a huge underdog, but if they pull off a couple of upsets in group play, it’ll be partly due to Mwema’s savvy and skillful style of play.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jusuf Nurkić
As Bosnia and Herzegovina’s focal point, Jusuf Nurkić can post triple-double-like numbers in group play. He’ll need to if he’s to lead his team to victories, as they’re coming in as a major underdog in the tournament. Nurkić’s bruising style of play is a perfect fit for FIBA, giving him a chance in the running for MVP.
Cyprus
Darral Willis
Darral Willis, a first-time participant in EuroBasket, will lead Cyprus. After playing college basketball at Wichita State for two seasons, Willis was unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft. From there, the 6’9″ forward won MVP in the Cypriot Cup, winning the game for his team and scoring 40 points. Cyprus will need more of that if they make some noise this summer.
Czechia
Vít Krejčí
A reserve guard for the Atlanta Hawks, Vít Krejčí is set to be the go-to scorer for the Czech national team this summer. His talent suggests he’s up for the challenge, as he’s upped his scoring average in the last two seasons. He’s a deadeye 3-point shooter, allowing him to break open a game for Czechia.
Estonia
Kristian Kullamäe
Kristian Kullamäe has been a pro for 9 seasons, signing with teams all across Europe, including stops in the BBL and Liga ACB leagues. He’s a player who will fill up Estonia’s stat sheet, putting it in the hoop while mixing it up on the boards and finding open teammates. Estonia doesn’t project to go far, but it’ll need Kullamäe to perform well.
Finland
Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen has long been a staple for the Finnish national team, always the focal point and putting up large numbers. That’s precisely what he did in exhibition play, putting up two 40-point efforts.
🇫🇮 Lauri Markkanen drops 28 PTS to help Finland prevail in their #EuroBasket home opener 🥶 pic.twitter.com/QuejotrpZa
– FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 27, 2025
The 7-foot sharpshooter will likely continue that output; it’ll come down to how far Finland can advance.
France
Alexandre Sarr
With centers Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert unavailable for EuroBasket, it’s up to Alex Sarr to man the middle for France. The core around him is solid, with several NBA players, but Sarr will be the reason the French national team makes it far in this tournament thanks to his impressive versatility on both ends of the floor.
Georgia
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Sandro Mamukelashvili has a unique skill set. At 6’9″ and 240 pounds, he can handle the ball and is lethal when given space on the perimeter. He’ll need to get hot if Georgia is to stay competitive in group play and advance in the tournament, giving him a shot at the MVP award.
Germany
Franz Wagner
Though longtime German team point guard Dennis Schröder is also a candidate, everything runs through Franz Wagner when things go right for Germany.
Franz Wagner vs. Montenegro:
22 PTS
8 REB
8-15 FG
23 MIN
W📸: @DBB_Basketball pic.twitter.com/MVb5LDhhsC
– Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) August 27, 2025
Wagner can do it all offensively, scoring at will in the paint while defending at a high level on the other end. His game is a perfect fit for the FIBA rules.
Great Britain
Gabe Olaseni
A center for the Great Britain national team, Gabe Olaseni played for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2011-2015, averaging 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in his senior season. He’s grown into a terrific overseas player and is the headliner of Great Britain. Expect Olaseni to put up stats on a roster that lacks scoring outside of him.
Greece
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Though Giannis Antetokounmpo will be playing with his brothers Thanasis and Kostas, who each have NBA experience, he’s the engine behind Greece’s offense and defense. If the team can make a run in the tournament, it’ll be because Antetokounmpo is filling up every stat category, a prime reason for being the MVP.
Iceland
Jón Axel Guðmundsson
A former standout at Davidson, Jón Axel Guðmundsson has been a member of the Icelandic national team since 2015. He won the A10 Player of the Year award at Davidson in 2019. He has blossomed into Iceland’s top player thanks to his shooting ability and ability to distribute the ball to teammates. He’s far and away the team’s best player.
Israel
Deni Avdija
Deni Avdija’s finish to the 2024-25 season with the Portland Trail Blazers was terrific, as he played the best basketball of his career thus far. If he can continue that hot streak, his chances of winning the MVP will be as high as any other star playing in EuroBasket.
Italy
Simone Fontecchio
The sharpshooting Italian, Simone Fontecchio, can light the gym on fire with how hot he can get. But don’t mistake him for just a jump-shooter, as he has an underrated ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket using his 6’7 frame. Fontecchio must be MVP-caliber if the Italian national team makes any noise.
Latvia
Kristaps Porziņģis
With his mystery illness gone and his legs underneath him, Kristaps Porziņģis enters this summer as one of the top players in EuroBasket.
Representing Latvia: Kristaps Porziņģis 🇱🇻
Good luck KP! #EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/tzF1FCMr8q
– Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) August 26, 2025
Like others on this list, his game is ideally suited for FIBA rules as a tall, 7’2″ sniper and shot-blocker. He does it all on both ends of the floor, something he’ll have to do to lead Latvia to victory.
Lithuania
Jonas Valančiūnas
Power is what Lithuanian big man Jonas Valančiūnas offers up every night. That earned him a career as a backup and spot-starter in the NBA. But in FIBA rules, he’s unstoppable at times. Given the ability to dominate the paint, Valančiūnas will have a chance of causing opposing teams problems in each game this summer.
Montenegro
Nikola Vučević
While Nikola Vučević is far from a superstar, he’s not far from being a routine All-Star in the NBA. He’s talented in the post, with several go-to moves and the ability to stretch the defense beyond the three-point arc. Vučević must be at his best for Montenegro to make some noise.
Poland
Mateusz Ponitka
A veteran professional player in Europe, Mateusz Ponitka is the leader of the Polish national team and is the engine behind their success. He’s been a part of two Belgian League championships in 2014 and 2015, proving his winning prowess. The small forward is versatile and heady, using his experience to outperform opponents.
Portugal
Neemias Queta
Primarily a backup big and energy-giver in the NBA, Neemias Queta will enter the summer as the primary offensive hub for Portugal, which lacks a ton of talent on the roster. He’s sure to put up double-doubles, but if it’s 20-point, 20-rebound double-doubles, Queta and Portugal will wildly succeed.
Serbia
Nikola Jokić
Arguably the favorite to win the MVP and on a Serbian team that’s amongst the favorites to win EuroBasket, it would be a significant surprise if Nikola Jokić doesn’t put on a show during this tournament. He always seems to play his hardest and put up his best stat lines with the Serbian national team, which should be no different in 2025.
Slovenia
Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić is the no-brainer here. He’s one of the best players in the world and has been admired for his commitment to the Slovenian national team in every offseason of his career.
Lakers executives Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka flew to Poland to support Luka Dončić in his final practice before Slovenia’s EuroBasket opener 👏
📸: @kzs_si pic.twitter.com/vlIncXFZVk
– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) August 27, 2025
He runs the show for his squad, routinely finishing with triple-doubles despite the smaller court and 40-minute games. Dončić is sure to put up big numbers again this summer.
Spain
Santi Aldama
Santi Aldama, one of the more underrated and underappreciated players in the NBA, will be the leading scorer for the Spanish national team in the tournament. He’s nearly 7 feet tall and plays like a guard with an impressive skill set; given the opportunity, he’ll be a star this summer for Spain.
Sweden
Pelle Larsson
The Miami Heat’s second-year man, Pelle Larsson, is the lone NBA talent on the Swedish roster. Typically a strong connector on both ends of the floor, he’ll be asked to do more with the basketball–something he did in college with the Arizona Wildcats. He’s a lengthy wing with the potential to have some nice performances in a starring role.
Turkey
Alperen Şengün
A first-time All-Star in 2025, Alperen Şengün will hope to take an up-and-coming Turkish squad to the promised land during this tournament. It’ll start and end with him, as the Houston Rockets star is a brilliant passer as the offensive hub and possesses takeover abilities in scoring.
