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USA Today
15 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking 20 best NBA players at EuroBasket 2025, including a definitive top tier
Unfortunately, we remain months away from the start of the 2025-2026 NBA season. It'll still be a good while before we see some of the most exciting hoopers on the planet put on a show on a nightly basis. To be quite honest, that reality makes me sad. Aside from the schedule-makers and those who decide the healthy balance of an NBA season, how DARE anyone do this to us? NBA SEASON PREVIEW: Over/under pick for all 30 teams' win totals this season. Fortunately, for those who find themselves quite invested in the NBA and men's international basketball in general, we have something fantastic to tide us over. In a few weeks, the quadrennial EuroBasket tournament will tip off across host countries Poland, Cyprus, Finland, and Latvia. For those across the pond, it'll be a worthwhile treat seeing who shapes us as the eventual European champion. For those of us oriented more Westward, it'll be our first taste of meaningful men's basketball as the global game infuses itself with more and more European talent, among other continents, by the year. In the interest of setting the table for what should be a thrilling tournament from start to finish, here's an ironclad (read: totally correct) ranking of the 20 best players at EuroBasket 2025. Please note that, even with the difference in rules from the NBA to anything FIBA, these evaluations are mainly based on the quality of basketball players that we see under the NBA's umbrella, where all of these players spend most of their playing time. 20. PF/C Sandro Mamukelashvili, Georgia (Toronto Raptors) Mamukelashvili is still a lesser-heralded NBA player, which might make his inclusion in these rankings a bit puzzling. But make no mistake: he's got some notable court-tilting talent. Mamukelashvili moves well in space and is more than capable of attacking mismatches and making himself consistently available to his initiators. For a Georgia team that needs all the juice it can get, Mamukelashvili is vital to the nation's chances of making any noteworthy noise. 19. F/G Bilal Coulibaly, France (Washington Wizards) A strong two-way wing, Coulibaly has acquitted himself rather nicely through his first two seasons in the NBA. He's a plus, playmaking defender who knows how to cut and move well without the ball in his hands on offense. Ahead of another hopeful season of growth in Washington, Coulibaly should be an integral all-around piece for a French team that finished with a silver medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics. 18. F Zaccharie Risacher, France (Atlanta Hawks) As the somewhat unheralded No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, Risacher had the opportunity to develop while flying under the radar as a rookie. This allowed the small forward to post solid shooting splits while working within the confines of an offense built around Trae Young's playmaking. He'll be one of France's more important perimeter shooters in Europe before taking on a similar role for an underrated Hawks squad. 17. C Tristan Vukčević, Serbia (Washington Wizards) Serbia has quietly built one of the world's strongest men's basketball programs. Vukčević is another prime example of this success. The smooth shooting stretch five has already proven himself as a viable offensive role player in the league with the Wizards, and he's still got room to grow. For the time being, he should be a vital contributor in a loaded and skilled frontcourt for the Serbians. 16. G/F Jeremy Sochan, Poland (San Antonio Spurs) In the NBA, Sochan has the enviable position of getting to play with the generational Victor Wembanyama as one of his many Spurs sidekicks. It allows the young wing to act as a do-it-all Swiss Army Knife. It's a different story at EuroBasket on a Polish team lacking distinctive (or talented) difference makers outside of a fourth-year role player like Sochan. Nonetheless, he belongs in this spot on this list. READ MORE SOCHAN: He says he has "something to prove" next season. 15. G Dennis Schröder, Germany (Sacramento Kings) Schröder is what I would call the rare "tournament riser." In the NBA, with NBA rules, he's a decent if somewhat middling two-way point guard who has questionable descriptions about playing in today's league. When playing in international tournaments for Germany, with FIBA rules, he's usually one of the best overall players. For a German team with a real chance at the European championship, Schröder has to be firing on all cylinders. And he probably will be. 14. C Nikola Vučević, Montenegro (Chicago Bulls) A former two-time All-Star, Vučević's game has languished, to an extent, as he's gotten older on the Bulls. Even still, he remains a highly effective offensive hub who is more than capable of lighting it up from behind the arc and having his way in the post. He'll be Montenegro's key piece in any possible extended run in Europe. 13. F Guerschon Yabusele, France (New York Knicks) After a half-decade absence from the NBA, Yabusele thrived as a depth piece for the Philadelphia 76ers last year. This, after breaking out during the 2024 Olympics. The power forward has a classic bully-ball game with a soft shooting touch and an excellent feel for creating space and opportunities for himself. He'll be one of France's leading characters on a squad with legitimate aspirations at the podium. 12. C Goga Bitadze, Georgia (Orlando Magic) Even in a smaller role for the Magic, Bitadze is quietly one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA. He's a bona fide weapon as a defensive anchor because he protects the rim with the best of them. It wouldn't be that hard to see Bitadze as a veritable Defensive Player of the Year candidate if he played more than a career average of 14.4 minutes per game. I'm serious. For now, he'll have to settle on blocking tons of shots for Georgia. 11. C Jonas Valančiūnas, Lithuania (Denver Nuggets) Valančiūnas has carved out a lengthy NBA career by doing one thing well: putting the ball in the basket. In 13 NBA seasons, Valančiūnas has averaged a solid 13.1 points per game despite seldom playing more than roughly 20 minutes. He's big, strong, experienced, and savvy. It's no wonder the Nuggets were so intent on keeping him as their backup center. Lithuania can feel safe running its offense through his old-school back-to-the-basket game. 10. F Santi Aldama, Spain (Memphis Grizzlies) As a perimeter-oriented offensive big man, the Grizzlies rewarded Aldama with over $50 million simply and mainly because he can shoot the cover off the ball. Entering his fifth NBA season, Aldama has ascended to a status as one of the finer role-playing shooting bigs. He's now one of the faces of the next generation of Spanish basketball that wants to return to international prominence. 9. G Bogdan Bogdanović, Serbia (L.A. Clippers) A lights-out shooter for most of his professional career, Bogdanović has settled in nicely as a depth piece for a tough Clippers squad. Whenever he appears for Serbia, Bogdanović usually has much more responsibility, acting as one of the primary offensive initiators for the nation alongside Nikola Jokić. He should be a prime contributor once again for a Serbian team eyeing the gold medal. 8. C Kristaps Porziņģis, Latvia (Atlanta Hawks) Health issues have marred Porziņģis's recent career prospects, who otherwise has one of the better all-around skill sets for a big in today's NBA. Provided he can stay healthy, Porziņģis is not only a seamless fit next to Trae Young in Atlanta but the perfect person to man the middle for Latvia at EuroBasket. 7. F Lauri Markkanen, Finland (Utah Jazz) Markkanen is a fleet-footed power forward who can create his own shot, reliably shoot from deep, move well off-ball, and act as a physical offensive presence near the rim. His star has only lost its luster of late because he's been mired on a Utah squad that is usually actively tanking by March, if not earlier. But make no mistake. He's clearly one of the best players at this year's EuroBasket. 6. F Deni Avdija, Israel (Portland Trail Blazers) With five years of NBA experience under his belt, Avdija has gotten better and better every year. His true breakout might have been last season in Portland, where he shined as a two-way scoring wing who took off after the All-Star break. At this point, at the age of 24, Avdija is on a trajectory toward being a consistent difference-maker, not just a role player. 5. C/F Alperen Şengün, Turkey (Houston Rockets) A first-time All-Star last season, Şengün is one of the reasons many people are high on the Rockets' NBA title chances this year. He has blossomed as a scoring big man who is an exceptional playmaker for his teammates, and if nothing else, he has shown he can be a physical defender when asked to exert more effort on that end of the court. At the age of 23, it's likely safe to say that Şengün's star has only really started to spark. 4. F Franz Wagner, Germany (Orlando Magic) Wagner feels like one of those guys who is right there on the brink of superstardom. When I say that, I mean that I think Wagner can be a genuine top-10 player in the NBA. At the very least, thanks to his efficiency and supreme skill, he should eventually become a perennial All-NBA guy. He is, indeed, that good. If Wagner adds a more reliable 3-point shot to his repertoire, then the sky's the limit for him in Orlando. It's easy to see why Germany is high on its EuroBasket chances with Wagner leading the charge. 3. G/F Luka Dončić, Slovenia (Los Angeles Lakers) This is where the true cutoff for this list begins. There is a clear chasm between the top three players, starting with Dončić at No. 3 overall, and everyone else mentioned here. I want that distinction to be pronounced because it is. As for Dončić, what else can you say about a sublime passer who always (ALWAYS) plays at his own pace? He's one of the four best players in the sport on the men's side of the proceedings. He's a generational talent capable of taking any game over on a whim. His brilliance alone makes Slovenia a must-watch in Europe. L.A. LUKA: Dončić can shine with Lakers, if he stays patient. 2. F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece (Milwaukee Bucks) Don't let the Bucks' recent disappointing postseasons fool you: Antetokounmpo remains at the peak of his powers. He is still every bit the talisman who captured two MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year, and an NBA Finals MVP within three seasons from 2019 to 2021. He is arguably the best transition talent in basketball, is a dynamite rim protector, and he gets to the basket at will like a bat out of hell. It's a breathtaking mix to witness. Very few are as capable of putting their team on their back like Antetokounmpo. 1. C Nikola Jokić, Serbia (Denver Nuggets) Even though he didn't win his fourth MVP in five seasons last year, it's tough to argue against Jokić as the best player in Europe. In all honesty, the horse racing-obsessed center is clearly still the best player in the world at the helm of a bona fide championship-caliber Denver team. Full stop. How else do you explain the man basically averaging a 30-point triple-double with 62-41-80 shooting splits? That is absurd for anyone, let alone a seven-footer who seldom jumps more than several inches off the ground (quite literally). Jokić is so remarkable and so polished at this prime stage in his career that it boggles the mind. It is no wonder many consider Serbia to be the EuroBasket favorite when it has someone like Jokić on its side.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Strasbourg reach agreement to sign Borussia Dortmund's Soumaïla Coulibaly
Fabrizio Romano reports that Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace have reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund to sign Soumaïla Coulibaly (21) for €7.5m. The Frenchman, who spent last season on loan at fellow Ligue 1 side Stade Brest, will sign a five-year contract until 2030. Borussia Dortmund recalled Coulibaly from his loan spell at Brest and is a part of the squad that is partaking in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, the central-defender is only a bit-part player in Niko Kovač's squad and is yet to make an appearance in the US. Advertisement Coulibaly joined Borussia Dortmund from Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 after impressing for the Parisien club's youth teams, rejecting a move to Marseille and Bayern Munich in favour of Dortmund. A loan spell at Standard Liege followed while a move to Burnley collapsed last summer, which paved the way for Brest to sign the defender on a season-long loan deal, which resulted in Champions League football. GGFN | Daniel Pinder
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 players Washington Wizards must avoid in 2025 NBA Draft
The post 3 players Washington Wizards must avoid in 2025 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Washington Wizards finished the 2024-25 season with a 18-64 record. Washington held on to the sixth overall pick after the NBA Draft lottery and are one of seven teams with two first round picks under their control. How they use those picks will influence how head coach Brian Keefe approaches the season. Regardless of who they walk out of the first round with Washington's young core, led by Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr, is one of the more interesting groups in the NBA. Advertisement Throughout last season, the Wizards played six players who were in their rookie or sophomore seasons in the league. Predictably, the team had a tough time shooting, passing, and protecting the ball. Washington ranked in the bottom ten of the league in field goal percentage, as well as turnovers and assists per game. Trade rumors have surrounded the Wizards that involve one or both of their first round picks. As of now, though, Washington has shown no interest in moving either of them. In a draft class that could be argued as deeper and more talented than 2024's, the Wizards have another chance to snag future contributors to a contending team. Arguably no team had a better overall draft than Washington did in 2024, taking Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George in the first round. That trio, as well as Coulibaly, showed flashes last season. Now, it is the front offices job to add two more pieces that fit. Here are three players that the Wizards should avoid with the 6th and 18th picks in the draft. @ Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Oklahoma G Jeremiah Fears Jeremiah Fears emerged as one of the top guards in the country's best conference in his freshman season. Fears did not make it onto any of the All-SEC teams this season. However, it is safe to assume that Oklahoma would not have made it into the NCAA Tournament without him. He led the Sooners in scoring at 17.1 points per game, serving as the team's offensive engine. He took his scoring to another level in the last five games of his college career. Advertisement Fears scored 20 or more points in four of his last five starts, including 31 points in a win against Mizzouri in the last game of the SEC's regular season. At 6-foot-4 and just 18 years old, NBA teams hope that the young guard can develop his offensive skills further at the NBA level. Fears has drawn interest from the Brooklyn Nets at the eight spot in the draft. However, their needs are far different than Washington's. The Wizards already have their backcourt spots filled with Jordan Poole, Coulibaly, Carrington, and Marcus Smart. The team's main needs in this draft are a backup big man and 3-and-D wings to come off the bench. Fears' defense is the weakest part of his game, and his size will prevent him from standing up to opposing perimeter players. @ Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Georgetown F Thomas Sorber The 18th pick in the draft presents the Wizards with a plethora of options. The depth of this class is substantial, with players like Sorber available in the second half of the first round. The forward spent his freshman season getting coaching from NBA legend Patrick Ewing at Georgetown. In 24 games, he averaged 14.5 points while shooting better than 50% from the field. Sorber projects as a force in the paint and on the glass on both ends of the floor. Advertisement Sorber's season ended on February 15 with a foot injury. While he recovered and will be at full health heading into his rookie season, the injury presents a risk. For big men as athletic as Sorber is, lower body injuries only become more frequent as they get older. While Washington is far from contention in the Eastern Conference, they need time for their young core to build chemistry alongside one another as the team's rebuild continues. In addition to his health, Sorber's biggest red flag can be tied to one number; 16.2%. That is what the forward shot from the 3-point line across his 37 attempts last season. In an NBA where almost every player needs to be able to shoot to stay on the floor, Sorber could struggle to get minutes early in his career, especially in Washington. Cedevita C Joan Beringer Beringer is one of ten international players projected to be picked sometime in the first round. However, he presents the biggest risk of all of them. He averaged around 18 minutes in his last professional season before declaring for the NBA Draft. However, he averaged just 4.7 points and 4.6 rebounds across 47 games. Advertisement His lack of stats and the mystery around him have teams interested. Beringer worked out for the Nets alongside Noa Essengue, another top international prospect. The biggest difference between both players is the fact that Essengue brings much more to the offensive side of the ball than Beringer does. The Wizards need defenders, but Beringer's offensive shortcomings make him a situational player at best. He is as big a project as any player in this draft class. Washington could decide that his upside is worth the work it will take to develop his game though. If he can put together a competent offensive skillset, he fits well alongside fellow Frenchmen Coulibaly and Sarr. Related: Washington Wizards' 3 best options for No. 6 pick in 2025 NBA Draft Related: The only blockbuster NBA Draft trade Wizards must pursue
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dortmund bring back loanee Coulibaly earlier than planned
SBorussia Dortmund's Soumaila Coulibaly (l) and Marcel Sabitzer fight for the ball during a training camp. Borussia Dortmund have brought back the loaned defender Coulibaly a few weeks before originally planned, the Bundesliga club said in a statement on Thursday. David Inderlied/dpa Borussia Dortmund have brought back the loaned defender Soumaila Coulibaly a few weeks before originally planned, the Bundesliga club said in a statement on Thursday. The player was expected to stay at French side Brest until the end of the month. Advertisement But Coulibaly is back in Dortmund and started recovery training as he's been out of action since March due to adductor problems. If he's fit in time, he can take part in the Club World Cup in the United States on June 14-July 13. Dortmund start their campaign against Brazilian side Fluminense on June 17.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
People Are Being Paid to Wear ‘Free Diddy' Shirts Outside Courthouse
Someone's working very hard to create an image of public support around Sean 'Diddy' Combs, according to a bystander who told the Daily Beast she was offered $20 cash to wear a 'Free $Diddy' shirt outside the court where he's standing trial. Sali Coulibaly, a 29-year-old tech project manager, was standing outside the U.S. District Court in New York's Southern District on Friday, watching the public gathering attracted by Combs' ongoing sex trafficking trial, when she said she came across a strange sight. 'I saw a group of [people] awkwardly standing outside of the playground across the street from the courthouse,' Coulibaly told the Daily Beast of the moment she spotted several clumped together strangers wearing 'Free $Diddy' and 'Free Puff' t-shirts. 'I was wondering why they were wearing those shirts,' she continued. 'I was curious. I crossed the street, and I'm standing there with my phone out, and then this older lady is staring at me. She's just staring at me for a period of time. Then she tells me, 'Do you want to come out here and wear a shirt for $20 an hour?'' The woman then motioned over to a younger man and told her, ''Just go to that guy. If you're already standing out here, you may as well get paid.'' A video of Coulibaly posted by freelance journalist Emilie Hagen went viral Friday, racking up millions of views. Rapper 50 Cent was among those who reposted it during his latest Diddy trolling session over the weekend. 'Diddy paying people to wear Free Diddy shirts is diabolical, but $20 an hour ain't bad,' he quipped. Who exactly is paying the bystanders to don the paraphernalia remains unclear. But drumming up the appearance of support is reminiscent of Combs' early days as a musician and producer—when he and others of the 'mixtape generation' would pay people to buy up his mixtapes, generating hype for a new music release. Coulibaly told the Daily Beast that most if not all the paid protesters outside Combs' trial appeared to her to be unhoused. At least one seemed to be on 'drugs or something, since he just kind of looked like he didn't know where he was.' She continued to observe the situation, noticing that a more coordinated version of the t-shirt operation seemed to be underway in the park near the courthouse. 'I went inside the park and I see the young man that was giving away the shirts, was sitting on the bench with maybe a bag or a box-full,' she said. 'And I can see a group of [people] were changing in the park. He was asking for their sizes.' An investigation by Hagen uncovered that the shirts promote $DIDDY coin, the growing internet currency token representing Combs' media moment—and thus, may be more of a cash grab than an ego boost for Combs. Even though Combs' camp denied involvement with the t-shirts, according to Hagen, his X account did at one point promote the $DIDDY crypto currency. 20 dollars a head seems to be motivation enough for the people milling around the courthouse to keep the shirt gambit going for now, whatever its endgame may be. 'She was very persistent, like she just wanted me to wear it so bad,' Coulibaly added of the woman who approached her. 'I just walked away.' Combs hopes to do the same, now that he's turned down a plea deal to face the federal charges against him and risk spending the rest of his life in prison. After his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura has finished her bombshell testimony, Combs' lawyers are hard at work to defend him from more state-presented evidence that he coerced mass numbers of victims into sexual activity through threats, blackmail, and violence. Combs has consistently denied all charges.
