MUNICH (Germany) - The FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers are over!
We now know all 24 participating teams, which allows us to wrap up the Qualifiers cycle with the first 24-team Power Rankings.
We placed each team primarily based on their Qualifiers performances, but also on what the expectations are from them when the main event tips off in August.
#1 Serbia (-)
Record: 6-0
Serbia not only qualified with ease, they continued building that familiar Serbian basketball culture - most evident by allowing a total of 376 points in six games, which is 63 points per game.
It was easily the lowest mark of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers. Why is their defense crucial? Because the entire world knows how talented they are offensively. So if they can beat you both ways, they are probably the favorites to go all the way in Riga in September.
#2 France (-)
Record: 6-0
New coach, new team, new players, new everything, same old France. Smooth sailing throughout the Qualifiers, not only winning the group, but breaking the hearts of the two neighbors from their group.
First, they eliminated Croatia in Zadar, then they hit the buzzer-beating game-winner against Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are so deep with their pool of talent, it's going to be a nightmare figuring out who gets cut from the team in August.
#3 Latvia (+1)
Record: 6-0
If you don't think Latvia deserve to be here, just check the other hosts' records (Finland, Poland, Cyprus).
Don't forget Latvia were deeply disappointed not to make the Olympics last summer, that's fuel for their motivation not to repeat the same mistakes at home when FIBA EuroBasket 2025 tips off.
#4 Greece (-1)
Record: 5-1
Best of the rest. They only lost one game, and by a single point, so this is the foundation to reach the podium once again. The last time they've done so was in 2009, when a certain Vassilis Spanoulis was named to the All-Star Five.
He's the coach now. Who better to guide Giannis Antetokounmpo to his first major medal with the national team?
#5 Germany (+1)
Record: 4-2
The world champs avoided any drama, played their usual high-pace basketball with a lot of shooting: jacking up 67 three-pointers in the last window, and you can't really blame them when they have guys like Andi Obst and David Kramer playing together.
Since Dennis Schroder said his goal is to play for Germany until he's 40, and guys like Isaac Bonga, Daniel Theis or the two Johanneses (Voigtmann and Thiemann) were already there during the Qualifiers, expect Germany to charge towards another podium in September.
#6 Lithuania (+1)
Record: 5-1
Don't think watching Lithuania will ever be the same without Mindaugas Kuzminskas' endless wingspan, bouncy hair and that contagious smile of his...
Lithuania finished the Qualifiers as one of only three teams to allow less than 400 points, and they averaged 80.3 per game on the other end, meaning their ticket was never really in any doubt.
#7 Slovenia (+3)
Record: 4-2
So why are they up three spots? Because they took care of business, qualified while avoiding last minute stress, managed to give their veterans Jaka Blazic, Klemen Prepelic, Aleksej Nikolic and others some much needed rest in February, while handing over the reins to some new kids on the block, led by Ziga Daneu.
Oh, and don't forget Luka Doncic loves playing at the FIBA EuroBasket. Just saying, 2017 wasn't that far away in the past.
#8 Spain (-)
Record: 3-3
The reigning champions actually ended the Qualifiers with a negative points difference (-2). But who cares, they got the job done, they will be back in the main draw once again, which also means they'll somehow struggle in the initial group, get through and end up with a medal around their necks in September.
The biggest of stars may be gone. But the culture is still there, as is the habit of winning.
#9 Italy (-)
Record: 4-2
Introducing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of the Qualifiers. Which Italy will show up at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025? The one that swept Türkiye and qualified without breaking sweat?
Or the one that lost a pair of home games against Iceland and Hungary? Good news, both their Jekyll and Hyde sides would still be Top 10 in the Power Rankings.
#10 Türkiye (-5)
Record: 3-3
Not sure what to think about their 0-2 February 2025 window. No reason to be concerned, but 0-2 is never a good sign.
#11 Israel (+2)
Record: 5-1
Deni Avdija is having a career year with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists, and the numbers are even better in the midst of the Blazers' resurgence in 2025, clearly playing the best basketball of his life.
Just saying that because he'll probably join the 5-1 Israel squad, so maybe they are the dark horse of the EuroBasket this time around.
#12 Estonia (-1)
Record: 4-2
Estonia lost two of their last three games, that's the only reason they aren't a Top 10 team right now. But the way they went pound for pound with Lithuania proves that they could be a legit Round of 16 contender.
Before you say, "wait I thought they could do more," we'll just tell you the last time Estonia made the last 16 of the FIBA EuroBasket was in 2001.
When there were 16 teams, total.
#13 Bosnia and Herzegovina (+1)
Record: 3-3
No Dzanan Musa, no Edin Atic, no Amar Gegic, and France still needed a buzzer-beater to defeat BIH. That's how strong - like, really, physically strong - these guys are.
Jusuf Nurkic and Luka Garza are their two NBA players, which only fortifies the statement about the physicality BIH could bring to the summit.
#14 Georgia (+1)
Record: 3-3
Georgia went from being in trouble to being able to rest Giorgi Shermadini and Tornike Shengelia on the final Gameday. That's why they went from 15 to 14 over here, just a nod of approval from our side because we recognize their growth.
But we also can't push them further up until they do something EuroBasket 2015-ish, when they were *this* close to making it to the Quarter-Finals.
#15 Great Britain (+7)
Record: 4-2
We knew they were serious when they defeated Greece, handing them their only L of the campaign. But come on, 4-2!? That's amazing.
However, it's still not enough to put them to Top 10 here, because we are well aware of their last two FIBA EuroBasket experiences. In 2017 and 2022, they went 0-10. So understand if we're a bit skeptical around here.
#16 Iceland (+2)
Record: 3-3
How close was Group B? So close, it made us think Iceland could be out on Gameday 6, but instead, they went to finish second in the group, just a win behind group winners Italy.
Scary moment as they lost the tiebreaker to Hungary, amazing moment as they bounced back and defeated Türkiye to get the party started as they booked their third FIBA EuroBasket ticket. That's the way this competition system flows, up and down and up again.
#17 Sweden (+3)
Record: 3-3
First time back at the EuroBasket since 2013! If you think that's an upset or that basketball is not that popular in Sweden, here, take a look at the arena for their last game against Montenegro.
Pick any game, it was like this all the time when they were at home. Can't wait to see how many of them make the trip this summer!
#18 Finland (+7)
Record: 2-4
Don't be fooled by their 2-4 record, because they knew they were in no matter what happens during the Qualifiers. Finland looked much better in the final window, and you know they'll look much better in August, and they'll probably look much better in September, too.
They went from 16th in 2015, to 11th in 2017, to 7th in 2022. So 16-11-7 would mean 4 is up next in 2025, right? Right...
#19 Belgium (-3)
Record: 3-3
Just 395 points allowed in six games. In a group featuring Latvia and Spain, too.
Belgium get things done and they'll aim for the Round of 16 in September, too. Which means we'll push them up three spots in the Power Rankings soon.
#20 Montenegro (-8)
Record: 3-3
Losing eight spots because that's what happens when you go 0-2, and a bunch of other teams... Well, don't go 0-2.
Montenegro will have to figure some things out before August and September arrive, most importantly how to move on after Kendrick Perry announced his international retirement.
Which sucks for Montenegro, because Perry has been simply sensational for Unicaja, claiming the Basketball Champions League Final Four MVP award, as well as the Copa del Rey MVP award just 10 days ago. But there's life after Kendrick, for sure. They just need to figure it out.
#21 Portugal (-2)
Record: 2-4
Losing two spots because it's kinda hard to promote them upwards when they went 0-2 in February and lost to Ukraine by 28.
But still, feel good story of the Qualifiers, for sure.
#22 Czechia (-5)
Record: 2-4
Ehm... Is everything okay, Czechia? Sure, losing an overtime thriller to Greece is sort of bad luck, but allowing 494 points across six games? Not bad luck, for sure.
Cyprus, Finland and Poland were the only three teams with worse defense in terms of points allowed, but all three of those knew they were pre-qualified for the event, so in theory, Czechia had the worst competitive defense of them all.
So... Is everything okay, Czechia?
#23 Poland (+1)
Record: 1-5
Can't really judge Poland for their performances during the Qualifiers, but scoring 48 points at home against Lithuania sounded like a bad dream.
Sounds horrifying considering they were in the Semi-Finals in 2022.
#24 Cyprus (+8)
Record: 0-6
Hosting is one thing, being competitive in another. Cyprus don't have a mountain to climb, they need to swim out of the Mariana Trench, sprint 6000km westbound, and walk to the Mount Everest, that's what kind of uphill battle awaits come August and September.
Okay, that's an exaggeration, but still. Cyprus have never been to the FIBA EuroBasket Final Round, and this is going to be a huge learning experience, something for them to build for in the years to come.
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.