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Montenegro: Moving On From Perry, Leaning on Vucevic

Group B – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Montenegro’s EuroBasket campaign starts with a clear challenge: replacing the heart and engine of their team. Kendrick Perry qualified them almost singlehandedly — including a 31-point closer — before retiring from international play. With NBA veteran Nikola Vučević still anchoring the frontcourt and Kyle Allman stepping in as the new lead guard, the team enters a transitional phase, high on talent but still searching for identity.

Best Players: Perry is gone, and his impact will be hard to replace. Vučević is now unquestionably the focal point — a skilled, floor-spacing big who still commands attention in FIBA play. Marko Simonović remains a steady frontcourt partner, and Kyle Allman is the newcomer tasked with filling Perry’s massive creation void. His style is somewhat similar — slashing, aggressive, on-ball — but he’s never suited up for Montenegro before, which adds uncertainty.

Path: Montenegro finished qualifiers 3–3. They lost both games to Germany by 19, swept Bulgaria (thanks largely to Perry), and split with Sweden — a 25-point blowout at home and a tight loss on the road after qualification was secured.

Strengths: Vučević brings versatility on both ends, stretching the floor and offering an inside option. He pairs well with Simonović, even if Chicago never quite figured that out. Allman gives them a scoring threat who can generate offense off the dribble — something they badly need post-Perry.

Weaknesses: The glaring hole is creation. Without Perry, they lack a proven organizer. Allman may fill that void, but he’s never played for them. The team is also a poor three-point shooting unit — both in volume and efficiency — which compresses spacing. Defensively, they’re shaky and prone to lapses, conceding over 80 points per game in qualifiers. Focus and chemistry will need to come fast.

Bottom Line: Montenegro has the pieces to make noise, but cohesion is a question. If Allman meshes and Vučević leads from the front, they can hang in Group B. If not, things could unravel quickly.

Expectation: Fringe Knockout Contender

Margin for error is slim, but the talent keeps them in the mix.

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.