Five stars making their national team returns

MUNICH (Germany) - Welcome back! The first window of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers will be highlighted by some big names of European basketball rejoining their national team after some time away.

Injuries, health and other circumstances can always result in stars not being able to suit up in their national team jersey. The windows often provide a chance for some players to get a first opportunity to play for the national team, but this month will also see a number of big names back on the international stage.

Here are five players who will be wholeheartedly welcomed back by fans of their national teams the coming weekend.

5. Nick Weiler-Babb (GER)

Last event: FIBA EuroBasket 2022
Last game: 82-69 vs Poland | September 18, 2022

American native Weiler-Babb only received his German passport shortly before the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers in August 2022. After debuting for Deutschland in that window, he played at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 and helped Germany grab third place - the first time the country took a podium finish since finishing second in 2005.

Weiler-Babb missed playing at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 due to an injury, but he has been fit all season in 2023-24, playing for freshly-crowned German Cup champions FC Bayern Munich. His versatility at both ends of the court will be a welcome return for German coach Gordie Herbert.

4. Edgaras Ulanovas (LTU)

Last event: FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019
Last game: 74-55 vs Dominican Republic | September 9, 2019

Ulanovas has not worn the Lietuva jersey since the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, and Lithuania fans will be thrilled to have him and his leadership back in the team. The 32-year-old forward was part of the golden Lithuanian generation that won the titles at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket, FIBA U18 EuroBasket and FIBA U20 EuroBasket as well as the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. Ulanovas' only previous FIBA EuroBasket experience came in 2017, when Lithuania won their group but then lost to Greece in the Round of 16 and ended up finishing ninth.

Besides a one-year stint with Fenerbahce Istanbul in 2020-21, Ulanovas has been one of the leaders with Zalgiris Kaunas since 2014, including reaching the EuroLeague Final Four in 2018. He will in the coming weeks become the 19th player in EuroLeague history to play 300 games. 

3. Konstantinos Mitoglou (GRE)

Last event: FIBA Olympic Qualifying  Tournament 2020 Victoria
Last game: 72-97 vs Czechia | July 4, 2021

Mitoglou has not played for Greece since the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, Canada ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The power forward could not help Greece beat Czechia in the Final in Canada and Hellas missed the Olympics. Mitoglou was expected to play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, but he suffered a broken finger a day before Greece was to start the tournament and missed the event.

The 27-year-old big man sat out basketball from March 2022 until the beginning of the current season, but he hasn't missed a beat as he is averaging more than 11 points and 6 rebounds in the Greek league and EuroLeague as one of the leaders for Panathinaikos Athens. Mitoglou is yet to play at a FIBA EuroBasket in his career.

2. Shavon Shields (DEN)

Last event: FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers
Last game: 98-94 vs Belarus 2OT | September 13, 2018

As great as Shields is - along with Iffe Lundberg the only Danish playing in the EuroLeague for years - the 29-year-old has only played one game for Denmark, at senior or youth national team level. And that game was a magical double-overtime win over Belarus in the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers, in which Shields collected 26 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

Shields has been playing in the EuroLeague since 2018 - two years with Baskonia and with Olimpia Milano since 2020. Injuries have hampered him the last two seasons and he also missed a month of action in 2023-24. But the small forward has shown off his scoring ability - reaching 25 points in six games this season. Shields is hoping to get Denmark back to the EuroBasket for the first time since 1955.

Note: Shavon Shields was named in the Denmark squad, but will not play in Window 1.

1. Ricky Rubio (ESP)

Last event: Tokyo 2020 Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament
Last game: 81-95 vs USA | August 3, 2021

Rubio last played for Spain at the Tokyo Olympics, where they were eliminated by USA in the Quarter-Finals despite his 38-point effort. The 33-year-old collected MVP honors at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019; leading Spain to their second world title. Rubio was hoping to play at the 2023 edition but he pulled out of the event when he announced he would be taking an indefinite leave from professional basketball to take care of his mental health.

Rubio's last basketball game came on April 23, 2023 and announced his retirement from the NBA at the start of 2024. However, earlier this month, Rubio signed with his former club FC Barcelona until the end of the season. Spain's EuroBasket Qualifier against Latvia would be Rubio's first game back since the end of the 2022-23 NBA season. Rubio also helped Spain to the FIBA EuroBasket titles in 2009 and 2011 but missed the previous edition in 2022 through injury.

FIBA