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.
Lithuania: Still Big, Still Balanced, Still a Threat
Group B – EuroBasket 2025 Preview
EuroBasket never feels complete without Lithuania looming. This year’s squad may look different — no Sabonis, no Buzelis — but Lithuania’s identity remains rooted in size, depth, and basketball IQ. With a new coach and a shifting rotation, they enter the tournament with questions to answer but a ceiling as high as any non-elite contender.
Lithuania: Valančiūnas Anchors a Deep, Physical Squad
Best Players: Gytis Radzevičius and Eimantas Bendžius led the way during qualifiers, combining scoring efficiency with reliability. But the spotlight naturally shifts to Jonas Valančiūnas, who thrives in FIBA play and can tilt matchups with his physicality and low-post skill. Domantas Sabonis and top prospect Matas Buzelis won’t be part of this run, but the core still features a blend of veteran toughness and emerging talent. Keep an eye on Deividas Sirvydis, who might be the tournament’s top perimeter defender.
Path: Lithuania finished 5–1 in qualifying, their only slip-up a six-point road loss to Estonia early in the cycle. Otherwise, they handled business, leaning on their structure and size advantage in most games.
Strengths: Balance defines Lithuania. They’ve got depth at every position, real size all over, and a frontcourt that crashes the offensive glass like it’s 1995. Sirvydis gives them a backcourt stopper, and the veteran core brings poise and structure.
Weaknesses: Shot creation is still a concern. They lack guards who can consistently generate offense off the dribble, and spacing can suffer as a result. Valančiūnas remains a defensive liability in pick-and-roll coverages, and when shooters like Ulanovas struggle, the offense can get congested and predictable.
Bottom Line: With Valančiūnas at his usual FIBA level and a well-rounded roster behind him, Lithuania is built to make a deep run — but they’ll need to find consistent shooting and perimeter creation to survive the upper tier of Group B.
Expectation: Long-shot contender
Deep, physical, and battle-tested — but when the game slows and creation dries up, their margin for error gets 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.
