MUNICH (Germany) - The countdown is on, as FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tips off in less than 150 days.
The reason why we're all here again is because of the draw. The teams have been placed in their respective groups and countries, which allows us to move them up or down in the Power Rankings, again.
#1 Serbia
Qualifiers record: 6-0
Let's face it, the only way we would've moved Serbia from the top spot was if they (a) got a horrible draw, or (b) if they were forced to travel all over the continent before the Knockout Phase.
You know, kinda like they did in 2022, when all of their magic disappeared before the medal games.
Since they got a decent draw, and were placed in Riga immediately, expect the toughest Serbian team... Ever? Maybe.
#2 France
Qualifiers record: 6-0
Okay, the last time they visited the Spodek Arena in Katowice, it wasn't a pleasureful activity. France were blown out by Spain in the Quarter-Finals in FIBA EuroBasket 2009, so it's not exactly the happiest of all places for them.
Then again, as Mac Miller said it, "it ain't 2009 no more."
This time around, they feel like they could win anywhere, because apparently their roster will be incredibly strong.
#3 Germany
Qualifiers record: 4-2
The connections between the Finnish and the German basketball cultures are strong, especially when it comes to various coaching trees, maybe that helps them feel at home in Tampere.
The world champs are certainly feeling like group favorites, especially because they already faced Group B rivals Montenegro and Sweden in the Qualifiers, so there would be no surprises there.
Gigantic games against Lithuania on Gameday 3 and Finland on Gameday 5!
#4 Greece
Qualifiers record: 5-1
Group C already sounds like the closest group of them all, with Greece, Spain, Italy, BIH, Georgia and Cyprus in there.
And yet, it would be a major surprise if any of these teams finished ahead of Greece. The memories of Giannis Antetokounmpo's domination in 2022 are still fresh, and last summer's appearance among the top eight teams at the Olympics just backs up the feeling that Greece could climb the podium for the first time since 2009.
You know who was their star player then? That's right.
#5 Latvia
Qualifiers record: 6-0
Yeah, this is pain. Latvia could certainly be a spot or two (or four) higher in the Power Rankings.
However, they were drawn in the same group with Serbia, so that path towards the top became much more difficult, despite their perfect record in the Qualifiers.
You'd think the home court advantage would help, but we all know what happened at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament when they hosted it last summer, so yeah, what if home court advantage turns into home court pressure?
#6 Slovenia
Qualifiers record: 4-2
Expect thousands and thousands of Slovenian fans at the event, since they were drawn in Katowice, Poland, which is actually the closest venue to Slovenia.
They were there in 2009, when Slovenia had one of the most heartbreaking finishes to a major event ever. They lost to Serbia in overtime in the Semi-Finals, then followed it up with a 57-56 defeat to Greece in the Bronze Medal Game.
Okay, time to wash those memories away with a flawless run in 2025, got it? Got it.
#7 Spain
Qualifiers record: 3-3
We all know what's gonna happen. Spain will lose a game or two in the Group Phase, everybody will go "okay, so guess that's the end of La Familia as a contender," then we'll all focus on 5-0 teams and predict the medal hunt discussing who the MVP should be.
Then, we'll blink twice and somehow, someway, coach Sergio Scariolo will have a medal around his neck. Again.
So technically, we could put Spain in 24th spot in the Power Rankings*, and they won't care one bit. They just know they'll be there at the summit, and Rudy can just keep the trophy in his hands.
*We would never do that.
#8 Lithuania
Qualifiers record: 5-1
Don't be fooled by the map, there's still a 12-hour drive from Lithuania to Tampere, so it's not exactly like they are playing in their backyard.
Consider them extremely motivated to face Germany in the same preliminary group again. It also happened in 2022, when they needed 50 minutes of basketball and drama to determine who was better.
Germany won that one 109-107, effectively sending Lithuania towards Spain - and elimination - in the Round of 16. Payback time?
#9 Türkiye
Qualifiers record: 3-3
Speaking of 2022, don't forget these guys were just inches away from eliminating France in the Round of 16.
France later on went to reach the Final. If you're just an overtime, one-point defeat away from the silver medalists, you must be feeling good about yourself, right? Right.
#10 Finland
Qualifiers record: 2-4
Okay, first things first, forget about the Qualifiers record. The Susijengi games at home are something completely different, and they are hoping of at least a 3-2 record in Tampere.
In unrelated news, the nation now has an NBA head coach. Maybe he drops by with a secret or two, mainly how to deal with Nikola, Bogdan, Domantas or Jonas.
#11 Italy
Qualifiers record: 4-2
This is actually a perfect position for Italy. They will gladly switch the attention towards Spain and Greece in Cyprus, handing them the role of group favorites.
Meanwhile, they'll happily accept the underdog role, the same one which led them to the Quarter-Finals in 2022, by eliminating Serbia in the Round of 16.
Great draw for them, when you think about it that way.
#12 Israel
Qualifiers record: 5-1
That Qualifiers record is impressive, especially without Deni Avdija. Everything looked good, the offense, the defense, the spirit, the panache, the results - you just feel like Israel could be a Quarter-Finals contender in 2025.
However, they need to keep an eye on the rear-view mirror, because...
#13 Poland
Qualifiers record: 1-5
...the hosts are right behind them!
If you consider France and Slovenia as group favorites, just based on recent results, then you've still got Poland, Israel, Belgium and Iceland left.
Among the four, Poland had the worst Qualifiers, by some distance, too. But they are at home. And they were in the Semi-Finals in 2022. So who are we to tell them they aren't a Final Phase team?
#14 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qualifiers record: 3-3
In 2022, they were in the group of death in Germany, with the hosts, Slovenia, France and Lithuania. They picked up two wins, and somehow ended just below the line.
In 2025, they are once again in the closest group of them all, facing Greece, Spain, Italy, Georgia and Cyprus.
Two wins could do the trick this time around, but after an inspiring Qualifiers run, Dzanan Musa and his teammates won't settle for anything less than three group wins, trust us.
#15 Estonia
Qualifiers record: 4-2
Lack of experience is the only reason we have them at this spot, because they were more than fine in the Qualifiers.
But in a group with Serbia, Latvia and Türkiye, they are like that talented U18 kid on your roster, just impatiently waiting for their chance to show the continent they belong here.
Having Czechia in the same group is also trouble, these guys made it to last 16 in two of the last three FIBA EuroBasket events. Estonia, don't be impatient. Your time will come.
#16 Georgia
Qualifiers record: 3-3
Good news? Tornike Shengelia can tell his teammates all there is to know about Italian basketball, Giorgi Shermadini can do the same about Spanish basketball, and Duda Sanadze can take the part about Greek basketball.
Bad news? It also means Georgia are stuck in the same group with Italy, Spain and Greece, three perennial medal contenders. Not the luckiest draw of all time.
#17 Montenegro
Qualifiers record: 3-3
Same as Poland in Group D, who is going to tell Montenegro they aren't the third best team in the group?
Okay, they faced Lithuania at the World Cup 2023, and it was no fun. They faced Germany in the Qualifiers now, even less fun.
However, they have Qualifiers wins over Finland, Sweden and Great Britain, so it wouldn't be unheard of to see them as best of the rest in Group B.
#18 Great Britain
Qualifiers record: 4-2
Sure, the Qualifiers were great, but Team GB and wins aren't exactly used in a lot of sentences together when it comes to FIBA EuroBasket main events.
In fact, the last time Great Britain won a game in the Final Round was in 2013, when they had a 2-3 record and finished 13th in Slovenia.
Since then, 0-10. Hence, three spots down.
#19 Belgium
Qualifiers record: 3-3
One day, Belgium will have a great draw at a major event. That day was not in March.
They get to face Slovenia again, three years after Luka Doncic and Co had eliminated them in the Round of 16. They get to face France, a team they beat only once over the last 50 years of EuroBasket history.
Oh, and add in the hosts, Poland, to that pool. Not an easy draw, not an easy schedule either, as they open up proceedings against France, but Belgium can figure out how to get to the Round of 16, for sure.
They've been there three times over the last four EuroBaskets, so placing them at 19 is actually underestimating them. Sorry, Belgium!
#20 Czechia
Qualifiers record: 2-4
Realistically, a Round of 16 team, but you be the one putting them high up without home court advantage, and after that abysmal run through the Qualifiers...
#21 Sweden
Qualifiers record: 3-3
Sweden have three wins over Finland, but two of them happened in 1972 and 1984. They have one win over Germany, but they also lost seven times to them.
They defeated Montenegro once, but lost the other three games by a combined 61 points. They never faced Lithuania.
The only team where you could say, "okay, Sweden are hot favorites in this one" is Great Britain, as they are 5-0 against them, but the last of those five games was played in 1988.
Call it lack of experience, especially against their group rivals in Tampere.
#22 Iceland
Qualifiers record: 3-3
So if you're a pessimist, you'll notice Iceland are down six spots compared to the last Power Rankings.
But if you're an optimist, you'll realize being at 22 would actually be their best ever result in FIBA EuroBasket history.
Still waiting for their first win at the Final Round, they went 0-10 in 2015 and 2017. So, who are they taking down in 2025? France? Slovenia? Poland? Belgium? Israel? Two of them? Three of them? All of them!?
#23 Portugal
Qualifiers record: 2-4
Well, the learning curve is the best one available, getting to face Serbia, Latvia in Latvia, Türkiye, even Czechia as a much more experienced team.
Trouble is, are they willing to settle for a learning experience? After all, they showed they can compete with those two wins and other close encounters during the Qualifiers, so why not go for a win or two?
#24 Cyprus
Qualifiers record: 0-6
As if being the bottom placed team in the Power Rankings wasn't enough, Cyprus got the toughest group of all.
Hopefully the arena will be packed for every single game, and in a few years, all the kids who watched from the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 from the stands will grow up to be incredible basketball players, willing to put Cyprus on the map.
Then, in 2037 or so, we'll do an editorial story about how this event shaped the whole generation. Long term thinking.
Note:The Power Rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.