MUNICH (Germany) - One of the highlights of every FIBA window is watching all the players who make their debuts with the national team. And, that was no different with the third gameday of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers.
Dozens of players across the continent lined up for their senior team for the first time - many of them youngsters while some were journeymen who finally got the call, and still others were players who were naturalized and got their first taste of FIBA basketball.
Who did the best? That is where you the fans come in. Vote below who you think was the best new face on the FIBA national team landscape.
Izan Almansa - Spain
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: June 7, 2005 Height: 6ft 9in / 2.05 m Club: Perth Wildcats (AUS) Statistics: 7 EFF; 10 PTS; 1 REB
Almansa got the call for the first time for the senior squad of Spain after possibly the greatest youth career in FIBA history. The teenager's inside presence was needed against Slovakia as he scored 10 points in a tight double-overtime thriller. Almansa ended up playing 10 minutes but he showed what he can do, especially at the offensive end.
Kamar Baldwin - Georgia
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: September 15, 1997 Height: 6ft 1in / 1.85 m Club: Saski Baskonia (ESP) Statistics: 17 EFF; 23 PTS; 4 REB; 5 AST
Baldwin showed why the Georgian national team naturalized him as he carried the team on offense with 23 points - though he needed 20 shots to get there in a hard-fought win at Finland. The 27-year-old seems to be Georgia's next naturalized guard following in the footsteps of Jacob Pullen, Michael Dixon, Thad McFadden and Joe Thomasson.
Grant Basile - Italy
FORWARD
Birth Date: April 19, 2000 Height: 6ft 9in / 2.05 m Club: Acqua S. Bernardo Cantu (ITA) Statistics: 20 EFF; 19 PTS; 4 REB; 3 AST; 3 STL; 1 BLK
Basile wasted no time in starring for the Italians in a comfortable victory over Iceland. The American forward, whose parents were Italian, played two games last season in the Basketball Champions League with Bertam Derthona Tortona but he has been one of the most dominant players in the Serie A2 second division for the past two years.
Khadeen Carrington - Israel
GUARD
Birth Date: October 3, 1995 Height: 6ft 4in / 1.93 m Club: Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (ISR) Statistics: 18 EFF; 18 PTS; 3 AST
Carrington made a big debut for Israel in picking up 16 points in an 86-73 against Ukraine. The 29-year-old Hapoel Jerusalem guard only received his Israeli passport this summer. Carrington was actually born in Trinidad and Tobago to a former football player and current coach.
Naz Mitrou-Long - Greece
GUARD
Birth Date: August 3, 1993 Height: 6ft 2in / 1.88 m Club: Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) Statistics: 7 EFF; 12 PTS; 3 REB; 1 AST
Mitrou-Long had a solid debut for the Greeks, though his efforts were not enough as Hellas were upset by Great Britain. Mitrou-Long, who was born and raised in Canada, holds Canadian and Greek passports and made his FIBA debut and played his first game in a FIBA competition at the age of 31.
Marcus Moller - Denmark
CENTER
Birth Date: December 1, 2006 Height: 7ft 1in / 2.16 m Club: Unicaja Malaga (ESP) Statistics: 11 EFF; 13 PTS; 4 REB; 1 STL
The seven-footer flashed his game against the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 runners-up and 2024 Olympic bronze medallists Serbia with 13 points including 2 three-pointers. Moller, who plays in the youth team for Unicaja Malaga, dominated at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 this past summer and showed he is ready to take the next step for Denmark's senior team ranks.
Dylan Osetkowski - Germany
CENTER
Birth Date: August 8, 1996 Height: 6ft 9in / 2.06 m Club: Unicaja Malaga (ESP) Statistics: 22 EFF; 17 PTS; 9 REB; 5 AST
Osetkowski has owned a German passport for a few years now but only made his debut for Deutschland in this window - and what a strong first game it was with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. That production, however, came in a heartbreaking loss to Sweden. But the Unicaja Malaga big man, who helped the Spanish club win the Basketball Champions League last season, gives new German head coach Alex Mumbru some options in the paint.
Nate Reuvers - Hungary
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: September 30, 1998 Height: 6ft 11in / 2.11 m Club: Valencia Basket (ESP) Statistics: 12 EFF; 10 PTS; 3 REB; 3AST
The naturalized big man showed his all-around game for Hungary in a clear loss to Türkiye. Reuvers, who plays for Spanish side Valencia, was a third option on offense alongside Zoltan Perl and Gyorgy Goloman. In addition to collecting 10 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, the American power forward did not commit a turnover in 21 minutes on the court.
Luka Samanic - Croatia
POWER FORWARD
Birth Date: January 9, 2000 Height: 6ft 10in / 2.08 m Club: Fenerbahce Istanbul (TUR) Statistics: 6 EFF; 7 PTS; 2 REB; 1 AST
Samanic was a regular for Croatia's youth ranks, playing at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2016 and two summers at the U18 level - guiding the Balkan side to the title at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2017, Division B and being named MVP. But the 24-year-old power foward finally made his senior national team debut in an important win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Samanic is still connected with Fenerbahce but took leave from the Turkish club in early September to return home for personal reasons and has not played a game this season.
Nolan Traore - France
POINT GUARD
Birth Date: May 28, 2006 Height: 6ft 4in / 1.92 m Club: Saint-Quentin (FRA) Statistics: 5 EFF; 10 PTS; 2 REB; 3 AST
Traore is considered France's next star point guard and the 18-year-old is showing it in the Basketball Champions League with Saint-Quentin. Traore helped France this summer finish fifth at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2024 to qualify for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025. New France head coach Frederic Fauthoux had no problem with inserting Traore into the starting lineup against Cyprus in his first game. And, he played a solid game with 10 points and 3 assists in a game that was tougher than France had thought ahead of time.
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