MUNICH (Germany) - Four gamedays are now behind us in the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers, with the first seven boarding passes handed out, as Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Serbia Slovenia, Spain and Türkiye all confirmed their berths at next year's event, joining the four hosts in Cyprus, Finland, Latvia and Poland.
To review all the November action, we ranked the teams from 1 to 32 in Volume 4 of the Smart Power Rankings, taking into consideration their performances, opponent strength, and of course their previous rank in Volume 3 of the Power Rankings.
Here is how the Power Rankings look after the November 2024 window.
#1 Serbia (+1)
Record: 4-0
This window was so good, coach Svetislav Pesic was full of praise for his players and the fans who filled the arena in Belgrade as the team took on Denmark. Serbia are through to the main draw, they are also looking forward to February, because that will give them another seven days or so to continue building something nice towards the FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
However, the main story about Serbia is the one of Borisa Simanic coming back to the national team. Superhero.
#2 France (-1)
Record: 4-0
The only reason they dropped a place is because Serbia were so good, and because, in a bizarre twist of fate, France aren't qualified just yet. A three-way tie with Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina could push them out of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025, so keep an eye on those matchups in February.
#3 Latvia (+1)
Record: 4-0
Other hosts of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 in the Qualifiers: Let's chill, work in some new guys, get everything ready for next year, okay?
Latvia, meanwhile: Let's finish 6-0, let's ruin Belgium's dreams of early qualification on a pair of late three-pointers by Rihards Lomazs on the road, let's send out notes to the rest of the continent that we're going to be the team to beat next summer.
Oh, and let's do it respectfully, too.
#4 Greece (-1)
Record: 3-1
Will life be any different now that Vassilis Spanoulis got the club coaching gig at AS Monaco? Probably not. However, life would've been easier with a sweep over Team GB, instead they dropped a game on the road in Great Britain and now find themselves under a bit of pressure ahead of the February 2025 window.
Not a lot of pressure. But a bit. Just enough for coach Spanoulis to keep his men 100 percent focused the next time they gather around.
#5 Lithuania (+4)
Record: 3-1
Speaking of pressure, Lithuania showed exactly how you're supposed to deal with it. They were in danger of being eliminated ahead of this window, as a pair of North Macedonia wins would've put Lithuania out of contention.
But coach Rimas Kurtinaitis is way too experienced for this kind of danger. He turned it into "danger," and then into "danger" and then into ______. That's nothing, as Lithuania charged towards the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tickets with two games in hand.
They aren't #1 in their group, but they are the first ones from Group H to advance.
#6 Türkiye (+6)
Record: 3-1
When kids around you say the word "aura," and you have a hard time imagining what it could be, just think of Cedi Osman in a Turkish national team jersey. Saying he's their leader would be an understatement.
With Osman scoring a total of 54 points in 60 minutes of action against Hungary in November, it was clear they were headed towards qualification even before the last window.
The best part about Cedi dominating, and why we say he has aura, is the fact he wasn't even trying to force it, he was just going with the flow and still getting 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. Infinite aura, especially in that national team jersey.
#7 Germany (-2)
Record: 2-2
We expected to say some stuff about a guy from Spain when it comes to Germany, but no, it wasn't their new head coach Alex Mumbru, and no, it wasn't their newest arrival Dylan Osetkowski from Unicaja.
It was La Laguna Tenerife's sharp shooter David Kramer, out of nowhere - actually, that's not true, we warned you about him in Volume 3, so there were people ready for his big games.
But 43 points? On the road!? Making it the second best scoring performance by any German player for the national team, trailing only Dirk Nowitzki's 47 against Angola from 2006!?!? Nobody saw that coming.
But that's Germany for you now, incredibly deep with Kramer doing his thing here, Andreas Obst setting a new EuroLeague record with 11 threes, and don't get us started on the Wagner brothers or Dennis Schroder in the NBA...
#8 Italy (-2)
Record: 3-1
Good news? They are through. Good news, part two? The 18-year-old wunderkind Dame Sarr got his first cap with the national team! Bad news? They dropped two spots here, because they lost to Iceland at home.
Yeah, yeah, "but they already qualified before tip-off" - the world of Power Rankings is cruel and doesn't care about excuses. Top 8 is still good, and puts them in a solid position to be a top five team when we return in February.
#9 Spain (+2)
Record: 2-2
It's still hard to process all the things that Santi Yusta pulled off on the road in Slovakia, but with his clutchness, Spain advanced and rest assured, this #9 will turn into a top five spot, and then into top three as the tournament approaches.
That's the first rule of the Power Rankings, Spain have to be a top three team whenever we're talking about FIBA EuroBasket events, because in 2025, they will be chasing their eighth (yes, 8th) straight (yes, in a row) podium place finish.
In fact, over the past 25 years, the only time they failed to reach the podium in this competition was when they finished fourth in Belgrade in 2005.
#10 Slovenia (-3)
Record: 3-1
A few things to talk about when it comes to the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 winners:
The first half in Portugal was probably their worst basketball in this millennium;
The second half in Portugal and the fourth quarter in Slovenia were their most energetic performances in that same era;
The veteran leadership of Klemen Prepelic and Jaka Blazic is crucial in circumstances like these;
Youngsters like Mark Padjen, Ziga Daneu and Luka Scuka can be counted on despite their young age.
Oh, they drop three places because they lost to Portugal and almost lost to Portugal again in a matter of three days.
#11 Estonia (-1)
Record: 3-1
That's how tricky basketball is. Estonia looked like they were ready to go undefeated in their group, but then Mateusz Ponitka and Michal Michalak combined for 56 points and Poland stole one on the road in Estonia, sending the group leaders down to 3-1.
Now, with Poland already qualified, and with Lithuania also booking their trips through, Estonia could be out if they lose both of their games in February, and North Macedonia win both of theirs, including a +6 win over Estonia.
No reason to panic. Yet.
#12 Israel (+6)
Record: 3-1
It wasn't easy, playing a pair of games against Ukraine in Riga, Latvia, and they had a double digit deficit in game two. You know what they also had? They had Yam Madar and Ben Saraf, who could just take opponents on 1v1 and create advantages all over the floor.
The fact that Saraf is just 18 and is already taking over is a bit scary. Teammates put their trust in him, and for a moment in that second half of game two, he looked like James Harden, just isolating opponents, hitting threes or driving to the rim with his changes of pace to confuse the help defense. Bright future, both for him, and the national team.
#13 Montenegro (+2)
Record: 3-1
This window just proved how lethal Montenegro can be when Kendrick Perry goes nuts. He went over 30 in their second game against Bulgaria, and when he's feeling it, he makes the whole team better, meaning Montenegro could be...
Wait. What's that?
That was Kendrick's last game for Montenegro!? Oh well... He signed out in style, putting his adopted nation top of the table in Group D, ahead of the current world champs Germany, too.
#14 Bosnia and Herzegovina (+1)
Record: 2-2
Admit it, you thought BIH were too high when we put them at 15 ten days ago.
Admit it, you're thinking BIH are too low now that we put them at 14.
Still two games to go, but that tiebreaker over Croatia could be the reason they end up at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025.
"Now I have to tell you something, the truth about this national team. Thank god we won, so I can say this: Vrabac's mom is in the hospital right now, she was literally fighting for her life, but he went out on the court, and did his best. I came from Madrid although they told me not to come. The size of Kamenjas' leg is like two balls, Gegic has a problem with his heel... We achieved an unbelievable victory. I don't need to tell you anything more about this national team. I love you Bosnia!"
#15 Belgium (-7)
Record: 2-2
This hurts, okay? Belgium could've easily been at 4-0 and qualified, but somehow, those tricky Latvians defeated them by a combined five points in two games. And now Belgium have to stare at their rear-view mirrors, to keep Slovakia as far away as possible, and reach the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 on the court in February.
It hurts. They were our Power Rankings sweethearts in the Top 10...
#16 Georgia (+6)
Record: 2-2
You know what's star power? That's when your team struggles, and your leader cannot buy a bucket for 30 minutes, but then, when the game becomes close in the fourth, he goes off for four straight three-pointers and leads you to a gigantic road win in Finland.
You know what else is star power? It's when your leader says "Yeah, that's not enough!" and goes for 25 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks just three days later.
Toko Shengelia's star power sent Georgia from 0-2 to 2-2 and from 22 to 16 over here.
#17 Czechia (-1)
Record: 2-2
Just one note on Czechia's win and loss against the Netherlands: These guys are probably the most unselfish team of the Qualifiers, dishing out a total of 50 assists in two games, with two Ondrej's responsible for 23 of them.
While Sehnal does his damage with outside passing, Balvin does it from inside the arc, giving them a healthy diet of this and that. Their February schedule is tricky, at home against Greece, on the road in Great Britain. They do own the tiebreaker over the Netherlands, so that's helpful in case they stop passing the ball around come February.
#18 Iceland (+2)
Record: 2-2
Don't waste ink when you've got a link:
#19 Portugal (+9)
Record: 2-2
Up nine spots, and it doesn't do them justice, because up until the final minute of their game in Slovenia, they were actually group leaders in Group A, and we would've put them +19 if it stayed that way.
But Jaka Blazic and Klemen Prepelic decided to take over, and Slovenia were too strong to close out that game. With Slovenia and Israel already qualified, Portugal are just an inch away from booking FIBA EuroBasket flights, too. At 2-2 they are two wins clear of Ukraine, and those two nations face off on the very last gameday, Portugal being the hosts.
#20 Sweden (+6)
Record: 2-2
There were plenty of incredibly loud fans all over the continent, but it felt like the roof was gonna come off as Sweden's late charge saw them turn a -9 deficit into a +1 lead against the world champs Germany.
Since they lost the reverse fixture, Sweden know they will need more of that loudness, more of the madness as they play host to Montenegro on the final Gameday. With the way this group works, that last game may as well be the biggest one.
#21 Croatia (-5)
Record: 2-2
Just here to tell you that Croatia allowed 110 points against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The only time they allowed more than that? In 1992, some guys named Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley put up 117 against Croatia.
Yes, that was the Olympic Final in Barcelona. Yes, that's a crazy stat. Yes, Croatia are in trouble, but still have a fighting chance, although they need other results to go their way. If they don't, Croatia would miss the FIBA EuroBasket for the first time since gaining independence in 1991.
#22 Great Britain (+5)
Record: 2-2
Consider this November window a successful one for Team GB, as they picked up a win that Czechia and the Netherlands probably did not expect them to pick up, over Greece. That now means that GB are actually in the driver's seat, but the drive isn't an easy one, because their next game will see them defend a +4 advantage over Oranje on the road in the Netherlands.
Win that one, it's all good. Lose by up to four points, it's probably good. Lose by more than four, it could still be good, but probably won't.
#23 Poland (+1)
Record: 1-3
To be fair, Poland could've easily gone 2-0 in this window, but this is the part where they don't have the pressure of do-or-die surroundings, knowing they are the hosts of the event next year.
Compared to the first window when they went -19 in Lithuania and -25 at home against North Macedonia, these two games versus Estonia felt like a whole new Poland. The easiest way to describe it - they looked like the best 1-3 team of the Qualifiers.
#24 Finland (-5)
Record: 1-3
We could just do the copy-paste trick with the Polish part just above them. But we won't, because Finland weren't really close to going 2-0, and they aren't the best 1-3 team of the Qualifiers.
The biggest plus of their run in November was Olivier Nkamhoua's outing. The 24-year-old forward had 16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, looking like he could be the most consistent Finnish player not named Lauri Markkanen in 2025.
#25 Bulgaria (-8)
Record: 1-3
How do you drop eight spots in the Power Rankings? Easy, you build a 13-point lead late in the third quarter, and then go on to lose the game at home, allowing your visitors to score 90 points in your backyard.
Losing at home is a big no-no, especially in Group D, where everybody was at 1-1 before the window. Now, Bulgaria remain the only team at one win in their group...
#26 Netherlands (+4)
Record: 1-3
The plan was probably to go at least 1-1 against Czechia in November, and sure, it was a successful one, but then again, the other results made it a bit less successful. That's because Great Britain are still a win ahead of them, and that means that Oranje need a five-point win (at least) to have a chance of advancing on the final Gameday in February 2025.
Biggest plus of the Qualifiers so far? The 22-year-old Yannick Kraag, Mr. Consistency for them, double digits in all four games so far, done on 49 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent from beyond the arc.
#27 Denmark (-5)
Record: 1-3
Let's face it, losing a couple of games to Serbia isn't the worst thing ever, and most of the fans in Europe expected it to go that way. So, no, losing five spots isn't about a pair of blowout defeats to the Olympic medalists.
It's about Georgia coming to life and winning two games, thus making Denmark's quest towards the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 much tougher than before this window.
#28 North Macedonia (-5)
Record: 1-3
Nenad Dimitrijevic scored 43 points in less than 30 minutes against Lithuania. But he'll probably need to do something similar in the remaining two games if North Macedonia plan on catching Estonia at 3-1 and stealing the last FIBA EuroBasket 2025 ticket from Group H.
#29 Hungary (0)
Record: 0-4
The fact that Hungary are the best 0-4 team of the Qualifiers means nothing. Their math is now clear after Iceland rose to 2-2, Hungary need to defeat Iceland by more than five points and then need to win on the road in Italy, too, while they also need Iceland to lose their last game, at home against Türkiye.
Sounds like too high of a mountain to climb from this perspective.
#30 Ukraine (-5)
Record: 0-4
A similar mountain awaits Ukraine, too. They aren't out just yet, but they need to defeat Slovenia and then take down Portugal on the road by three points or more.
Oh, and Portugal need to lose their game to Israel, too. Sounds like a lot, and it is a lot, but we've seen crazier things in basketball history, for sure.
#31 Slovakia (0)
Record: 0-4
It's heartbreaking, the way they lost the double overtime game against Spain, but there was a big win for coach Aramis Naglic and the entire Slovak basketball community there, as 10,046 fans attended the game in Bratislava.
It was the only game in five digits of the November 2024 window, and hopefully, among those 10k were hundreds of kids who fell in love with the sport, and are bothering their parents to sign them up for basketball practices already.
Then, they'll come to practices and shout "FUSEK!" when they block somebody. Or "BRODZIANSKY!" when they hit a fadeaway jumper. Or "IHRING!" when they dish out an amazing assist. That's the way basketball grows within a country.
#32 Cyprus (0)
Record: 0-4
The margins of defeats suggests improvement, because they went from -33 and -29 in the first window to -16 and -15 now. But those are still defeats, so the hosts of the event will remain at the bottom of the Power Rankings at least until February.
When we start talking about the margins of wins, we'll also talk about a Top 20 spot here.
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.