Greece is gearing up for a EuroBasket comeback — and they’re bringing out the big names. Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis has unveiled a 19-man preliminary squad for EuroBasket 2025, and it’s headlined by none other than Giannis Antetokounmpo, alongside veteran guard Kostas Sloukas and sharpshooter Tyler Dorsey.
The goal? End a medal drought that’s dragged on since 2009.
Sloukas returns to national duty after missing last summer’s FIBA World Cup and the Paris Olympic Qualifiers, injecting leadership into the backcourt. Meanwhile, Giannis, still chasing that elusive international medal, brings unmatched star power and muscle to the squad. Dorsey steps in as the team’s naturalized player, replacing injured Thomas Walkup.
Some familiar faces won’t make the cut — Nick Calathes, Giorgos Papagiannis, and Nikos Rogkavopoulos are out, while Thanasis Antetokounmpo is sidelined recovering from injury.
But Spanoulis isn’t just betting on veterans. Fresh blood from the FIBA U20 European Championship — Neoklis Avdalas, Alexandros Samodurov, and Lefteris Liotopoulos — have earned a shot at the senior team.
Excluded from the list are guards Michalis Lountzis and Dimitris Moraitis.
The squad hits training camp on July 28, with their first friendly clash against Belgium on August 6. Spanoulis aims to forge a tight-knit team ready to storm back into Europe’s basketball elite.
