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.

Belgium: Grit, Guts and No Go-To Guy?

Group D – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Belgium comes into EuroBasket 2025 as one of the most disciplined and hard-working teams in the tournament. They don’t have the raw talent of the top contenders, but they make up for it with structure and toughness. Originally, the presence of NBA-level names like Toumani Camara and Ajay Mitchell promised to boost their upside, but both have now been ruled out of the tournament. The recent news that star guard Retin Obasohan will also miss the competition due to an injury is a devastating blow. This absence of their primary offensive engine and two key NBA players completely changes the outlook for Belgium, narrowing their margin for error and putting immense pressure on their established core.

Best Players: With Obasohan out, this is no longer a team with a clear-cut leader. He was one of the most productive guards in any group during qualifiers, averaging 20 points and over five assists per game. His ability to break down defenses and create for others was the foundation of Belgium’s offense. Now, with Mitchell and Camara also out, the team’s offensive and defensive depth takes a massive hit. Emmanuel Lecomte, who was the second-best scorer in qualifiers, is now expected to step up. While he is a capable scorer, he isn’t the same type of playmaker as Obasohan and creating for others isn’t his strong suit.

Path: Belgium finished with a 3–3 record. They were swept by a red-hot Latvia squad but did snag a gritty win against Spain at home. That victory came with Obasohan on the floor — they lost the return game without him, but qualification was already in the bag. Slovakia was no match, as Belgium swept that series behind physicality and defensive pressure.

Strengths: This team thrives in structure. Their defense is tough and connected, particularly on the ball — they held Spain under 60 points, a rare feat in modern international basketball. They don’t beat themselves and they’ll punish sloppy opponents. The double-teaming and pressure that opponents used to put on Obasohan on every pick-and-roll will likely be softened now, which could open up opportunities for other players.

Weaknesses: The ceiling is now more limited than ever without Camara, Mitchell, and maybe most critically, Obasohan. The biggest concern is the lack of a reliable shot creator. While Lecomte can score, he isn’t as efficient when he’s forced to be the primary playmaker. Belgium still lacks interior presence, which Spain exposed badly. Their shooting is streaky (just 31% from deep during qualifiers), and in games where the offense can’t get into a rhythm, they’ll struggle to generate consistent looks.

Bottom Line: Belgium won’t wow you with highlight plays or high-octane runs. They’re stubborn, physical, and well-drilled, but losing their top three players for EuroBasket makes their task incredibly tough. The team will have to rely on their defense and an offense-by-committee approach. They can still be a difficult opponent, but their chances of stealing a game or two in the group stage are now much slimmer.

Expectation: A well-coached spoiler, if they’re lucky

Don’t expect a deep run. The defense is real, but without their main offensive weapon, it’s hard to see where the scoring will come from. They will be a tough out, but their margin for error is razor-thin.

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.