Patryk Stachowiak
The road to the EuroBasket 2025 championship is heating up in Riga, Latvia as the tournament enters its knockout phase. Sixteen teams remain, packed with elite talent from the NBA and beyond — but there will be no repeat champion this year. Spain, the 2022 title-holders, have been knocked out in the group stage, a shock exit that underlines just how fierce the competition is.
Knockout Stage Format
EuroBasket 2025 opened with four groups of six teams in a round-robin format. The top four from each group advanced, setting up a high-stakes, single-elimination knockout stage. From here, it’s win or go home, with every game played in Riga, including the final and third-place decider.
Key NBA Stars Still in the Mix
This tournament boasts an extraordinary lineup of talent:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) – Already making headlines by leading Greece past Spain.
- Luka Dončić (Slovenia) – Carrying his nation with his usual flair.
- Nikola Jokić (Serbia) – The three-time NBA MVP looks to add a European title to his résumé.
- Kristaps Porziņģis (Latvia), Franz Wagner (Germany), Zaccharie Risacher & Bilal Coulibaly (France) – All representing their nations with poise and promise.
Notably absent: Victor Wembanyama, sidelined due to a blood clot that cut short his NBA season in February.
Round of 16 Fixtures and Scores
Saturday, Sept. 6
- Türkiye vs. Sweden — 5:00 a.m. ET
- Germany vs. Portugal — 8:15 a.m. ET
- Lithuania vs. Latvia — 11:30 a.m. ET
- Serbia vs. Finland — 2:45 p.m. ET
Sunday, Sept. 7
- Poland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — 5:00 a.m. ET
- France vs. Georgia — 8:15 a.m. ET
- Italy vs. Slovenia — 11:30 a.m. ET
- Greece vs. Israel — 2:45 p.m. ET
Knockout Stage Calendar
- Round of 16: Sept. 6–7
- Quarterfinals: Sept. 8–10
- Semifinals: Sept. 12
- Third Place Match: Sept. 18 — 10:00 a.m. ET
- Final: Sept. 18 — 2:00 p.m. ET
Final Thoughts
As Europe’s elite battle it out in Latvia, one thing is clear: this year’s EuroBasket is as unpredictable as it is exciting. Can Serbia justify their favorite tag? Will Giannis carry Greece all the way? Or is there a dark horse waiting to shock the continent? Stay locked in — the drama is just beginning.