By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Atlanta Hawks star Kristaps Porzingis is back with the Latvian national team and headlining an extended roster ahead of the training camp for the 2025 EuroBasket.
Dubai BC forward Davis Bertans, his brother, RIGA guard Dairis, Anadolu Efes forward Rolands Smits, Fenerbahce Beko guard Arturs Zagars and UCAM Murcia forward Rodions Kurucs are also named on the list of players that Latvia coach Luca Banchi has called.
Porzingis returns to squad after the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and will participate in a major summer competition for the first time since the 2017 EuroBasket. Per the Latvian Federation, he’s expected to join the team after a visit to Atlanta.
“After a long season in clubs, it is important for basketball players to get both their bodies and minds in order, so the initial goal is to keep them active, but not to overdo it with the workload. We will adjust them to the health and fitness level of each player to help them be in the best possible shape as EuroBasket2025 approaches,” said Banchi. Training camp will begin on Monday, July 7.
Latvia’s preliminary roster is as follows:
Rodion Kurucs (UCAM Murcia)
Ojars Silins (Legia)
Marek Meyers (U-BT Cluj Napoca)
Kristaps Porzingis (Atlanta Hawks)
David Bertans (Dubai)
Dairis Bertans (VEF Riga)
Roland Smits (Anadolu Efes)
Artis Ate (Valmiera Glass VIA)
Klavs Chavars (Sabah BK)
Richard Lomazs (Telekom Bonn)
Aigars Skele
Andrejs Grazulis (Joventut)
Martins Laksa (Tauron Gliwice)
Marcis Steinbergs (Baxi Manresa)
Tom Skuja (Riga Zeli)
Kristaps Kilps (BC Liepaja)
Karlis Shilins (Basquet Coruna)
Tom Leimanis (Monbus Obradoiro)
Arturs Kurucs (Breogan)
Henri Mishka (Kalev/Cramo)
Arthur Zagars (Fenerbahçe)
Kristers Zoriks (Le Portel)
Roddy Machoha (BC Liepaja)
Werner Koch (Valmiera Glass VIA)
Richard Vanags (Rioverde Clavijo)
The Latvian national team will host one of the four Groups of the 2025 EuroBasket and the knockout stage of the competition in Riga with the goal of winning a medal for the first time since 1939.
In the Group stage, Latvia will face Serbia, Turkey, Czech Republic and Estonia. The top four teams will advance to the eighthfinals.