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.

Serbia: Gold on Their Mind, Jokic at the Center of It All

Group A – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Serbia didn’t just qualify for EuroBasket 2025 — they cruised. A perfect 6–0 campaign with every win coming by at least nine points, rarely needing to shift out of second gear. But qualifying was the warm-up. The real story starts now: with Nikola Jokic likely back in the fold, Serbia instantly enters the tournament as a top-tier gold medal contender.

Best Players: During the qualifiers, Aleksa Avramović was their standout — consistent, disruptive defensively and productive offensively with 15.5 points per game and nearly 3 steals per night across all six games. Filip Petrušev also impressed in his four appearances, matching that scoring mark with efficiency. But of course, the conversation begins and ends with Jokic — arguably the best basketball player on the planet — and his potential pairing with Bogdan Bogdanović, who continues to thrive in FIBA play. If both are available, Serbia has the best 1-2 punch in the tournament.

Strengths: The identity is crystal clear. Jokic is the hub, but the beauty of this team lies in its clarity — everyone around him knows their role. They have perimeter creation outside of Jokic, reliable shooting and arguably the best depth in the field. From guards who can defend and make plays to skilled bigs like Petrušev, Serbia can adapt to multiple styles. Offensively, they’re efficient, deliberate, and punishing.

Weaknesses: Serbia’s main concern sits on the defensive end — specifically in pick-and-roll coverage. Both Jokic and Vasilije Micić can be targeted by quicker guards, especially when Serbia defaults to drop coverage or automatic switches. Against teams with elite ball-handlers, this could be a pressure point. Additionally, compared to top-tier opponents like France or Germany, Serbia might lack wing athleticism and defensive size on the perimeter — something that can become an issue against teams that thrive in transition or play with physicality at the 2–4 spots.

The Bottom Line: If Jokic and Bogdanović are both available and healthy, Serbia will enter EuroBasket as co-favorites alongside France and Germany. Even without one of them, this is a team that executes, plays with cohesion, and doesn’t beat itself. The path to gold is clear — and Serbia has the best player in the tournament to walk it.

Power Ranking: Title Favorites

Elite talent, elite structure and the best player in the world.

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.