EuroBasket also referred to as the European Basketball Championship, is a prestigious international basketball event for men’s National Basketball teams in Europe. It is governed by FIBA Europe.
It was established in 1935. Since then, the championship has become a household name throughout the continent.
The History of the EuroBasket
The first EuroBasket was held in 1935 in Geneva, Switzerland. It had 10 participating nations and Latvia ended up winning. Since its inception, the Soviet Union has won a majority of the events – mostly in the early years.
It was stopped from 1941 to 1946 due to World War II.
Qualification and Format
Twenty-four teams play under the current format. The host nation automatically qualifies to play while the other 23 spots are determined via qualification rounds.
In the tournament proper, teams are divided into four groups of six for a preliminary round-robin stage.
The top four teams from each group advance to a 16-team single-elimination bracket, culminating in the championship game. The semifinal losers compete for the bronze medal, while classification games determine the 5th-8th place finishers.
It shares the same format as that of the National Basketball Association.
Notable Players
Over the years, the Eurobasket has showcased several stars who have gone on to play in the NBA and other European Leagues. Some of the most notable ones include:
- Pau Gasol. The Spanish player was the 2015 EuroBasket MVP.
- Dirk Nowitzki. He helped lead the German team to a silver medal in 2005.
- Tony Parker. He was the 2013 EuroBasket MVP. He played for France.
- Gianis Antetokounmpo. He helped Greece win the bronze at the 2022 EuroBasket.
Future
Going forward, EuroBasket will co-hosted by Cyprus, Finland, Latvia, and Poland. This event will also serve as the qualifier for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.