The competition to crown the best basketball country in Europe returns for the first time since 2017. EuroBasket 2022 kicks off on September 1 with 24 countries on the field this year. The Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany and Italy will host games in the group stage, while Berlin, Germany will host the ‘tournament’ rounds until a champion is crowned.
Some of the NBA’s biggest superstars are competing in the event, including arguably the top three players in the world. Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Serbia’s Nikola Jokic and Slovenia’s Luka Doncic each play for their home countries, and their inclusion gives EuroBasket a level of star power that it has never seen before. There are plenty of other NBA players scattered throughout the field.
The last time the EuroBasket was held, Slovenia made a Cinderella run to the championship behind Doncic. Doncic was only 18 years old at the time and not yet in the NBA, but the tournament served as a major touchstone for his rise to stardom. Slovenia is 20-3 overall with Doncic in the lineup. Slovenia won’t be sneaking up on anyone with him in the lineup.
Before Slovenia’s surprise victory in 2017, Spain had won three of the last four EuroBasket competitions. This will be a new Spanish roster without brother Gasol and injured guard Ricky Rubio. Only Rudy Fernandez remains of Spain’s golden era teams, but a younger generation led by the Hernangómez brothers should keep the team formidable. France will also be one of the favorites after defeating the United States in both the last World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics. Rudy Gobert leads the French team again, but unfortunately, the projected number one pick in the overall draft, Victor Wembanyama, is sidelined due to injury.
Russia was expelled from the tournament by FIBA after the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Montenegro replaces them on the field.
The 24 teams are divided into six groups, with the top four teams advancing to the knockout round. The top 16 teams will play in a single elimination tournament until a champion is crowned.
Each game will be broadcast on ESPN+. You can find the groups, the schedule and the best players in the field below.
Eurobasket 2022 groups
Here are the groups entering the EuroBasket. Teams are listed alphabetically.
Group A
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Georgia
- montenegro
- Spain
- Turkey
B Group
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Lithuania
- Slovenia
Group C
- Croatia
- Estonia
- Britain
- Greece
- Italy
- Ukraine
Group D
- Czech Republic
- Finland
- Israel
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Serbian
EuroBasket 2022 group stage match schedule
All games are on ESPN+. Times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.
September 1st
Bulgaria vs. Spain, 7:20 a.m.
Hungary vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 8:20 a.m.
Montenegro vs. Turkey, 10:05 a.m.
Lithuania vs. Slovenia, 11:05 a.m.
Belgium vs. Georgia, 12:50 p.m.
France vs. Germany, 2:20 p.m.
september 2
Finland vs. Israel, 7:50 a.m.
Great Britain vs. Ukraine, 8:05 a.m.
Greece vs. Croatia, 10:50 a.m.
Czech Republic vs. Poland, 11:20 a.m.
Holland vs. Serbia, 2:50 p.m.
Estonia vs. Italy, 2:50 p.m.
September 3
Belgium vs. Montenegrin, 7:20 a.m.,
Poland vs. Finland, 7:50 a.m.
Croatia vs. Great Britain, 8:05 a.m.
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Germany, 8:20 a.m.
Turkey vs. Bulgarian, 10:05 a.m.
Ukraine vs. Estonian, 10:50 a.m.
Serbia vs. Czech Republic, 11:20 a.m.
France vs. Lithuania, 11:35 a.m.
Spain vs. Georgia, 12:50 p.m.
Slovenia vs. Hungary, 2:20 p.m.
Italy vs. Greece, 2:50 p.m.
Israel vs. Netherlands, 2:50 p.m.
4th of September
Montenegro vs. Bulgarian, 7:20 a.m.
Germany vs. Lithuania, 8:20 a.m.
Belgium vs. Spain, 10:05 a.m.
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Slovenia, 11:35 a.m.
Georgia vs. Turkey, 12:50 p.m.
Hungary vs. France, 2:20 p.m.
September 5
Israel vs. Poland, 7:50 a.m.
Estonia vs. Croatia, 8:05 a.m.
Greece vs. Great Britain, 10:50 a.m.
Holland vs. Czech Republic, 11:20 a.m.
Italy vs. Ukraine, 2:50 p.m.
Finland vs. Serbia, 2:50 p.m.
september 6
Turkey vs. Belgium, 7:20 a.m.
Poland vs. Netherlands, 7:50 a.m.
Great Britain vs. Estonian, 8:05 a.m.
France vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 8:20 a.m.
Spain vs. Montenegrin, 10:05 a.m.
Ukraine vs. Greece, 10:50 a.m.
Lithuania vs. Hungary, 11:05 a.m.
Czech Republic vs. Finland, 11:20 a.m.
Bulgaria vs. Georgia, 12:50 p.m.
Slovenia vs. Germany, 2:20 p.m.
Serbia vs. Israel, 2:50 p.m.
Croatia vs. Italy, 2:50 p.m.
September 7th
Spain vs. Turkey, 7:20 a.m.
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Lithuania, 8:20 a.m.
Belgium vs. Bulgarian, 10:05 a.m.
Slovenia vs. France, 11:05 a.m.
Montenegro vs. Georgia, 12:50 p.m.
Germany vs. Hungary, 2:20 p.m.
September 8th
Holland vs. Finland, 7:50 a.m.
Ukraine vs. Croatia, 8:05 a.m.
Greece vs. Estonian, 10:50 a.m.
Israel vs. Czech Republic, 11:20 a.m.
Italy vs. Great Britain, 2:50 p.m.
Poland vs. Serbia, 2:50 p.m.
EuroBasket 2022 knockout phase schedule
- Round of 16: September 10 and 11
- Quarterfinals: September 13 and 14
- Semifinals: September 16
- Match for third place: September 18
- Championship Game: September 18
Ranking of the 13 best NBA players at EuroBasket 2022
13. Goran Dragic, G, Slovenia, Chicago Bulls: Dragic is in the twilight of his NBA career at 36, but he can still create quick shots and outside shots for Slovenia. He will play Doncic and be the second option on offense.
12. Daniel Theis, C, Germany, Indiana Pacers: A good rebounder, active defender and tough protector, Theis stars alongside Dennis Schroder and Franz Wagner on a talented team from Germany. He will be one of the best interior scorers and defenders on the field.
11. Evan Fournier, G, France, New York Knicks: Fournier has long been a staple of successful French teams. He is one of the best shooters on the field and can create offense with the dribble better than anyone in France.
10. Lauri Markkanen, F, Finland, Cleveland Knights: Markkanen is a great 7-footer with an excellent 3-point shot. He is looking to build on an impressive showing at EuroBasket 2017 before returning to play a key role for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. Markkanen is the first NBA player from Finland.
9. Bojan Bogdanovic, F, Croatia, utah jazz: Bogdanovic leads a Croatian team packed with current and former NBA talent, including Ivica Zubac, Dario Saric and Mario Hezonja. Bogdanovic is arguably the best pure outside shooter on the field, and at 6’9, he should have no problem shooting against international contests.
8. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portland Trail Blazers: Nurkic is a power center who plays light touch as a scorer and passer. It should be fun to see him in a high-use role as the top option for Bosnia and Herzegovina after spending most of his NBA career playing against Damian Lillard in Portland.
7. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania, memphis grizzlies: Valanciunas has long been a dominant inside scorer, but the 30-year-old has added a nice three-point strike to his game in recent seasons. He will need to stretch defenses on offense with Domas Sabonis next to him in the lineup.
6. Domantas Sabonis, C, Lithuania, kings of sacrament: Sabonis and Valanciunas will form the most impressive front line of the field. Sabonis is also the best passer in Lithuania as a skilled center in the high post who can hit cuts or find shooters in the corner. It will be fascinating to see how the two top-level greats play together.
5. Franz Wagner, F, Germany, orlando magic: Wagner became a rising star after being selected with the 8th overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2021 NBA Draft. The 6’9 forward had an electric rookie year by displaying ball handling and rare passes for his size, and a solid shot hit. It looks like this tournament could be a launching pad for an even better second season for Wagner.
4. Rudy Gobert, C, France, minnesota timber wolves: Gobert switched teams from Utah to Minnesota this offseason, but he remains the burly center in the middle for France. A world-class shot-blocker, Gobert is also a hyper-efficient interior scorer around the rim on offense. It seems that his game is even more effective under FIBA rules, and his presence gives France a good chance to win it all.
3. Nikola Jokic, C, Serbia, denver nuggets: Jokic has a strong claim as the best player in the world after winning back-to-back MVPs with the Nuggets. The fact that he is third on this list shows how strong the field really is. No great man in the history of the game has been as skilled as Jokic: he’s historically a good passer, an incredible all-court shooter and has improved his conditioning year after year. Jokic’s genius will be on full display at the EuroBasket. Serbia is thinking of a championship with him in the lineup.
2. Luka Doncic, G, Slovenia, Dallas Mavericks: We’re giving Doncic the slightest advantage over Jokic here because we saw him win a championship in this tournament the last time it was staged. Doncic will have the ball in his hands on every Slovenian possession, and there is no defense in the world that can stop him. He is capable of moments of dribbling magic, displaying incredible passing vision, deep shooting range and a will to win that has translated into international success many times before. Anyone who eliminates Slovenia will have to go through Doncic, and that is no easy task.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Greece: Antetokounmpo is our pick for the best player in the world. He is the most dominant defensive force in the game and also one of the best scorers in the NBA. The Greek Freak has a historic combination of size and speed, and plays with an engine that never stops running. Antetokounmpo has already led the Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021. Can he add a EuroBasket title to his resume as well?
