With EuroBasket 2025 tipping off, this is your one-stop destination for in-depth previews of all 24 national teams heading into Europe’s premier basketball tournament. Whether you’re tracking MVP candidates, X’s-and-O’s brilliance, or just figuring out who might crash the medal party, our Power Rankings and team-by-team breakdowns will keep you ahead of the curve.

Portugal: Defensive Grit, Transition Hustle and Queta’s Paint Presence

Group A – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Portugal returns to EuroBasket with a clear identity: defend, run and compete for every possession. They may be one of the least heralded teams in Group A but they are built to be a thorn in everyone’s side. Fast-paced, physical and powered by NBA big man Neemias Queta, Portugal is unlikely to go quietly.

Their 2–4 record doesn’t tell the full story. They beat Slovenia at home and nearly did it again on the road, losing by just one. Losses to Ukraine, Israel and Slovenia were competitive and the final blowout came in a meaningless game with qualification already secured.

Best Players: Neemias Queta is unquestionably Portugal’s top talent and most impactful player. His rim protection and interior presence give Portugal an anchor on both ends. Efficiency-wise, Miguel Queiroz stood out during the qualifiers, while Travante Williams and Diogo Brito were the leading scorers. Rafael Lisboa offers valuable shot-making and on-ball creation, while Diogo Ventura provides steadiness as a floor general.

Strengths: Portugal thrives in transition. Their up-tempo style creates easy points and keeps pressure on opponents, especially when Queta controls the glass. They were one of the best offensive rebounding teams in qualifying, averaging 16 second-chance opportunities per game. Defensively, Queta brings real rim deterrence—something most lower-tier teams lack.

Weaknesses: The shooting is a problem. Portugal averaged just 7-of-27 from three per game. Outside of Travante, Brito and Lisboa, there are few consistent threats from beyond the arc—and often few players even willing to shoot it. The backcourt is undersized and with Cruz (their most athletic wing) unavailable, the team is even more vulnerable on the perimeter. When pressured or trapped, they can be overwhelmed, especially in the halfcourt where creation is limited.

The Bottom Line: Portugal isn’t expected to make a deep run, but they’re not here to just make up the numbers. With Queta anchoring the paint and a transition attack that can catch slower teams off guard, they’re capable of an upset or two. But without Cruz and lacking reliable shooting or on-ball creation on the wing, they’ll have to scrap for every result.

Power Ranking: Tough Outs, But Long Shots

Not built for late-stage success, but competitive enough to shape the group.

This article was co-written by the hosts of the European Hoops podcast, Tiago Cordeiro and André Lemos. Subscribe to the podcast and follow European Hoops on Twitter: @EthosEuroleague.